tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11600664171272905882018-03-18T20:41:37.565-07:00Economic Signs of the Times"… When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. And in the morning, It will be foul weather to-day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?" The Holy Bible
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"Many a so-called wise economist ... had not studied past history enough to know that after the greatest advance in history had culminated … the greatest panic in history must follow ... " W. D. GannRomemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.comBlogger3572125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-56454616836983504572018-03-18T20:41:00.000-07:002018-03-18T20:41:37.761-07:00Sunday roundup (03-18-18)<b><u>BOJ's government debt holdings hit record in fourth quarter</u></b> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-economy-boj/bojs-government-debt-holdings-hit-record-in-fourth-quarter-idUSKBN1GV06E" target="_blank">Reuters</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>[In the United States,] Why Trump Slayed [= Slew] His Own Masters of the Universe:</u></b> Trump vowed to bring business acumen to the White House. He just didn’t like it when the ideas came from someone else. (<a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/03/18/why-trump-slayed-his-own-masters-of-the-universe-217651" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump Attacks Mueller Personally on Twitter</u></b> (<a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/03/trump-attacks-mueller-personally-on-twitter.html" target="_blank">New York</a>) Newly Emboldened, Trump Says What He Really Feels (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/18/us/politics/trump-tweets-mueller.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br />[However . . .]<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">When asked recently whether she believed Mueller can be trusted to be fair, Ivanka Trump told me, “I do.” <a href="https://t.co/M3ddUrRMQV">https://t.co/M3ddUrRMQV</a></div>— Peter Alexander (@PeterAlexander) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterAlexander/status/975354477560688640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Team Trump: Expect Trump to Attack Mueller More Directly:</u></b> The president wants to confront more pointedly the federal probe into Russia election meddling in 2016. (<a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/team-trump-expect-trump-to-attack-mueller-more-directly" target="_blank">The Daily Beast</a>) Bernstein: Trump determined to stop Mueller: CNN's Carl Bernstein says that people close to President Trump are saying that he is determined to shut down Robert Mueller's investigation. (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/cnnmoney/2018/03/18/bernstein-trump-shut-down-mueller-investigation-rs-sot.cnn" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><iframe frameborder="0" height="234" src="//fave.api.cnn.io/v1/fav/?video=cnnmoney/2018/03/18/bernstein-trump-shut-down-mueller-investigation-rs-sot.cnn&amp;customer=cnn&amp;edition=domestic&amp;env=prod" width="416"></iframe><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">It can be a mistake to view Trump only through a lens of “impulse.” Mueller has been at work for 10 months, and Trump never tweeted his name until Saturday. Now again this morning. He is in a new, deliberate phase of attack. <a href="https://t.co/MFJqlkXB6r">https://t.co/MFJqlkXB6r</a></div>— Ari Melber (@AriMelber) <a href="https://twitter.com/AriMelber/status/975378944949178368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Trump Assails Mueller, Drawing Rebukes From Republicans</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/18/us/politics/trump-mueller.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) GOP lawmakers warn Trump against firing Mueller (<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gop-lawmakers-warn-trump-against-firing-mueller/" target="_blank">CBSNews</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">"I think at some point, Republicans enablers in the House and the Senate are going to say things publicly that they've said privately," <a href="https://twitter.com/SenSherrodBrown?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SenSherrodBrown</a> says on Trump's behavior and that's when "things are going to change" <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MTP?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MTP</a></div>— Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeetThePress/status/975397180675645440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">To Republicans who have carefully kept your powder dry, who have studiously maintained access to Trump and credibility with Trump supporters: You're not being asked to do much. Just step up and say, "Mr. President: Respect the rule of law. Leave the Mueller investigation alone."</div>— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/975365399708610561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Flake [(R) of Arizona]: Trump 'seems to be building' toward firing Mueller</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/378990-flake-trump-seems-to-be-building-toward-firing-mueller" target="_blank">The Hill</a>) Flake: Hope GOP colleagues stand up for Mueller (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/18/politics/jeff-flake-robert-mueller-cnntv/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>McCain [(R) of Arizona]: Mueller must be allowed to finish investigation 'unimpeded'</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/379047-mccain-mueller-must-be-allowed-to-finish-investigation-unimpeded" target="_blank">The Hill</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Special Counsel Mueller has served our country with honesty and integrity. It’s critical he be allowed to complete a thorough investigation into Russia’s interference in the 2016 election — unimpeded.</div>— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJohnMcCain/status/975483401452040192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Graham [(R) of South Carolina]: Trump firing Mueller would be 'the beginning of the end of his presidency'</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/18/politics/lindsey-graham-mueller-probe-cnntv/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>) As Trump continues to attack, lawmakers warn against firing Mueller: Firing Mueller ‘would be the beginning of the end of his presidency,’ Graham says [The New York Post via] (<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/as-trump-continues-to-attack-lawmakers-warn-against-firing-mueller-2018-03-18" target="_blank">Marketwatch</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Sen. Lindsey Graham tells <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSotu?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNNSotu</a> that should President Trump decide to fire Robert Mueller, it would mean "the beginning of the end of his presidency." <a href="https://t.co/Ve22FJV5lD">pic.twitter.com/Ve22FJV5lD</a></div>— Axios (@axios) <a href="https://twitter.com/axios/status/975366715101143040?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Q: What would happen if Trump fired Mueller?<br />Schiff: “I would hope it would prompt all Democrats and Republicans in the House to pass an independent counsel law and reinstate Bob Mueller. This would undoubtedly result in a constitutional crisis.” (via ABC) <a href="https://t.co/Fpg1TPd0Eb">pic.twitter.com/Fpg1TPd0Eb</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/975373822617669632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Gowdy [(R) of South Carolina] to Trump attorney: 'If you have an innocent client ... act like it'</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/18/politics/trey-gowdy-john-dowd/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Rep. Trey Gowdy on <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxNewsSunday?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoxNewsSunday</a> addresses Trump lawyer John Dowd's call to shut down the Mueller investigation: "And when you are innocent...act like it." <a href="https://t.co/KlwdRHklc3">pic.twitter.com/KlwdRHklc3</a></div>— Axios (@axios) <a href="https://twitter.com/axios/status/975359799268462592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Important<br /><br />Gowdy admits Americans should not trust House Intel Comm review of Russia collusion—should trust Mueller instead:<br /><br />House Commtee is “what you should NOT have confidence in. Have confidence in the Exec Branch investigations and if Mueller finds stuff, more power to him” <a href="https://t.co/5bPEQ2negq">pic.twitter.com/5bPEQ2negq</a></div>— Ryan Goodman (@rgoodlaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/rgoodlaw/status/975388525226053632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Trump said Mueller’s team has ‘13 hardened Democrats.’ Here are the facts.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2018/03/18/trump-said-muellers-team-has-13-hardened-democrats-here-are-the-facts/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>What authoritarians do: Attack the apolitical administration of justice</u></b>&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/03/18/what-authoritarians-do-attack-the-apolitical-administration-of-justice/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>White House attorney: Trump not considering firing Mueller</u></b> (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/18/trump-not-firing-mueller-470272" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Firing McCabe Is Just the Start:</u></b> Congressional Republicans and conservative pundits had the chance to signal Trump his attacks on law enforcement are unacceptable—but they sent the opposite message. (<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/03/trump-mccabe/555869/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The president is trying to discredit two important witnesses in Mueller’s obstruction of justice case. <a href="https://t.co/flU28F2sje">pic.twitter.com/flU28F2sje</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/975348815480938496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">A former federal prosecutor says that Trump is acting a mobster or narcotics kingpin who has been targeted by the feds. <a href="https://t.co/QvTUCJx4lY">https://t.co/QvTUCJx4lY</a> <a href="https://t.co/9eTBiPdOEK">pic.twitter.com/9eTBiPdOEK</a></div>— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/975491558026833920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">I have been involved in DOJ and FBI disciplinary matters since 1994. I have never before seen the type of rush to judgment – and rush to summary punishment – that we have witnessed in the case of Andy McCabe: <a href="https://t.co/9XKXoUKqTV">https://t.co/9XKXoUKqTV</a></div>— Michael R. Bromwich (@mrbromwich) <a href="https://twitter.com/mrbromwich/status/975044935408848898?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">In the last 24 hrs, Trump has live-streamed his strategy to kill Mueller probe<br />—Use McCabe firing to discredit FBI/Comey<br />—Use premature decision to end House Russia investigation to “prove” NO COLLUSION!<br />—Claim Steele dossier was foundation for entire probe<br />—Tie it all to Mueller <a href="https://t.co/5RRWfkwpfN">pic.twitter.com/5RRWfkwpfN</a></div>— Colin Kahl (@ColinKahl) <a href="https://twitter.com/ColinKahl/status/975326197075922944?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Trump often directs surrogates to make bold claims to market-test his ideas. Dowd declined to tell WaPo if he consulted Trump before this morning’s statement calling for end to Russia probe <a href="https://t.co/vrDV4H6pFz">https://t.co/vrDV4H6pFz</a></div>— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilipRucker/status/975150808391192576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">An analysis of something I flagged last night - Sessions just fired McCabe on a matter he claimed he would recuse himself from: <a href="https://t.co/3vbCSs01WA">https://t.co/3vbCSs01WA</a></div>— Ari Melber (@AriMelber) <a href="https://twitter.com/AriMelber/status/975019239919771650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Schiff: "McCabe and every other of the James Comey associates... who corroborate James Comey on the issue of potential obstruction of justice — every one of them has been targeted by the administration." (via ABC) <a href="https://t.co/zC5GhXg2eZ">pic.twitter.com/zC5GhXg2eZ</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/975375222273642496?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>President Trump Claims Andrew McCabe's Memos are 'Fake'</u></b> (<a href="http://time.com/5204533/donald-trump-andrew-mccabe-memos/" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Rubio [(R) of Florida] says FBI's Andrew McCabe should have been allowed to retire:</u></b> Republican Sen. Marco Rubio says he doesn't agree with how the Trump administration handled Andrew McCabe's firing. (<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/rubio-fbi-s-mccabe-should-have-been-allowed-retire-n857676" target="_blank">NBCNews</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump had senior staff sign nondisclosure agreements. They’re supposed to last beyond his presidency.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trumps-nondisclosure-agreements-came-with-him-to-the-white-house/2018/03/18/226f4522-29ee-11e8-b79d-f3d931db7f68_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump and the Truth: A President Tests His Own Credibility</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/17/us/politics/trump-truth-lies.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump White House Worked with Newt Gingrich on Political Purge at State Department, Lawmakers Say:</u></b> Trump officials called civil servants “turncoat” and “Obama/Clinton loyalists.” (<a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/03/trump-white-house-worked-with-newt-gingrich-on-political-purge-at-state-department-lawmakers-say/" target="_blank">MotherJones</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Paul vows to filibuster Pompeo, Haspel</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/18/politics/rand-paul-mike-pompeo-gina-haspel-cnntv/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>) Sen. Rand Paul Promises To Filibuster Pompeo, Haspel Nominations (<a href="https://crooksandliars.com/2018/03/sen-rand-paul-promises-filibuster-pompeo" target="_blank">Crooks and Liars blog</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Democrats enjoy a double-digit lead ahead of midterm elections, NBC News-Wall Street Journal poll</u></b> finds (<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/18/democrats-enjoy-a-double-digit-lead-ahead-of-midterms-nbc-wsj-poll.html" target="_blank">CNBC</a>) Trump Approval Ticks Up Yet New Poll Shows No Coattails for GOP (<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-18/voters-prefer-democratic-led-congress-by-10-points-nbc-wsj-poll" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">new NBC/WSJ poll: Trump receives net positive approval only from Americans whose education went no further than high school. net negative among those who attended college even for a time</div>— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) <a href="https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/975356369187504128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Kushner Cos. filed false NYC housing paperwork</u></b> (<a href="https://apnews.com/002703e70347481cb993027d04f543cc" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>)<br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-33676271721823523202018-03-17T21:41:00.001-07:002018-03-17T21:41:44.638-07:00Saturday roundup (03-17-18)<b><u>Is America on the Verge of a Constitutional Crisis?:</u></b> As the Trump presidency approaches a troubling tipping point, it’s time to find the right term for what’s happening to democracy. (<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/03/is-america-on-the-verge-of-a-constitutional-crisis/555860/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>After McCabe firing, Trump attacks FBI, and his lawyer says Russia probe must end</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/after-mccabe-firing-trump-attacks-fbi-and-his-lawyer-says-russia-probe-must-end/2018/03/17/8250a7f6-29df-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) Trump Lawyer Says Special Counsel Inquiry Should Be Ended (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/17/us/politics/trump-mueller-dowd.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>'A political assassination': Current and former officials come out swinging in defense of Andrew McCabe</u></b> (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/andrew-mccabe-fired-pension-firing-defended-2018-3" target="_blank">The Business Insider</a>) We’re not sure why McCabe was fired. But Trump’s tweet suggests the worst. [Editorial] (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/were-not-sure-why-mccabe-was-fired-but-trumps-tweet-suggests-the-worst/2018/03/17/0687c78a-2a07-11e8-874b-d517e912f125_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The firing of Andrew McCabe is the latest attempt by the Trump administration to undermine the FBI, obstruct justice, and pervert the rule of law. Trump is intent on punishing and intimidating all of the dedicated law enforcement personnel who stand in his way.</div>— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/974854363570110466?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Trump now at war with the last three men to run the FBI - mueller, McCabe and Comey - after interviewing two of them to be his directors of the fbi. Trump at war with the FISA courts - over their surveillance of Carter Page. Clearly he is very worried about his criminal exposure.</div>— Nicolle Wallace (@NicolleDWallace) <a href="https://twitter.com/NicolleDWallace/status/975026844922728448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">To all my republican friends who think they can sit out the Trump era and hope for great SCOTUS picks, your time is up. Trump is a disgrace who is debasing the office. You whisper it off the record and you email me your disgust. Time to stand up+speak out <a href="https://t.co/QiWkQK8Y6v">https://t.co/QiWkQK8Y6v</a></div>— Nicolle Wallace (@NicolleDWallace) <a href="https://twitter.com/NicolleDWallace/status/975175367894929409?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Has a single Republican leader in Washington, DC stood up in the last 48 hours to defend the rule of law, integrity and the Mueller probe?&nbsp; I am just flabbergasted at their hypocrisy.</div>— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) <a href="https://twitter.com/matthewjdowd/status/975177451000291329?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 18, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br />[Republican strategist:]<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">This American citizen demands to know the precise evidence that led to the termination of a 21 year FBI senior leader with a reputation for probity and rectitude two days before his reaching pension eligibility. Disgraceful. This is an abuse of power and pure bananarepublicanism</div>— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveSchmidtSES/status/974836030292475905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The firing of Andrew McCabe was political. Period. This is an assault on the rule of law by an erratic, lawless, corrupt and dishonest regime. The character assassination of this American patriot is outlandish.&nbsp; Show me the evidence of wrong doing!</div>— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveSchmidtSES/status/974883839502774278?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Every member of Congress, Republican and Democrat, needs to speak up in defense of the Special Counsel. Now. <a href="https://t.co/bg9pVtkdOv">https://t.co/bg9pVtkdOv</a></div>— Mark Warner (@MarkWarner) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkWarner/status/975022062388604928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>McCabe’s firing shows yet again how readily Trump incriminates himself</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/03/17/mccabes-firing-shows-yet-again-how-readily-trump-incriminates-himself/?tid=ss_tw&amp;utm_term=.b651990ebda5" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The irony that after 22 years of service, Andy McCabe was scheduled to retire from the FBI on Sunday, but instead he was fired late Friday night for allegedly “misleading investigators” by Jeff-“I did not have communication with the Russians"- Session.</div>— Ali H. Soufan (@Ali_H_Soufan) <a href="https://twitter.com/Ali_H_Soufan/status/974837598479945728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">This is a thread worth reading. <br />The changing tone, the permission people feel to attack others, the resentment building in America is all very dangerous and a precursor of bad things to come. <a href="https://t.co/2wKOBcRTt7">https://t.co/2wKOBcRTt7</a></div>— mieke eoyang (@MiekeEoyang) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiekeEoyang/status/975106872226312192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>McCabe is said to have written memos detailing his interactions with Trump</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fired-fbi-official-andrew-mccabe-kept-memos-of-his-interactions-with-trump-a-person-familiar-with-the-case-says/2018/03/17/8ef5bb0e-2a07-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) Source: McCabe gave interview, memos to Mueller (<a href="https://www.axios.com/source-mccabe-gave-memos-interview-to-mueller-2c378d87-d76c-436c-8499-a628da414a4e.html" target="_blank">Axios</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>On Russia, There Are Two Trumps: His team is going hard after Moscow. The president is not.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/03/17/trump-russia-administration-policy-217649" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><i><br /></i><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-77825557735826874302018-03-16T21:18:00.003-07:002018-03-16T21:23:42.947-07:00Friday roundup (03-16-18)<b><u>Europe's €900 BILLION problem: Warning as EU has bigger debt than before CRASH:</u></b> THE European Union (EU) debt problem is even worse than before the global financial crisis a decade ago, with almost €1trillion-worth of bad loans weighing heavily on Europe’s banks. (<a href="https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/932962/EU-news-debt-bad-loans-financial-crisis-European-Commission-Valdis-Dombrovskis" target="_blank">The Express</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>European Union releases 10-page list of potential targets for retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/03/16/european-union-releases-10-page-list-of-potential-targets-for-retaliatory-tariffs-on-u-s-products/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Borrowers are stretching incomes 'like never before' to buy homes as Bank of England warns of potential debt bubble</u></b> (<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5511841/Bank-England-warns-against-growing-housing-debt-bubble.html" target="_blank">The Daily Mail</a>) Mortgage lenders taking increasing risks, warns Bank of England: Threadneedle Street puts banks on notice as it prepares for annual stress test of resilience (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/mar/16/mortgage-lenders-risks-bank-of-england-stress-test" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>The risks and rewards of talks with North Korea</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/378815-the-risks-and-rewards-of-talks-with-north-korea" target="_blank">The Hill</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">White House is trying to prepare for a summit with Kim Jong Un of which there is no comparable historical precedent with peak chaos at State and NSC, no SK ambassador or NK special representative, and State’s acting Asia director purportedly likely to be sidelined by Pompeo.</div>— David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura) <a href="https://twitter.com/DavidNakamura/status/974472275486535680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Everything wrong with Fox News in one video <a href="https://t.co/MhnApiQ3pG">pic.twitter.com/MhnApiQ3pG</a></div>— NowThis (@nowthisnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/974450928714747906?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Retired four-star Army general: Trump ‘serious threat to US national security’</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/378884-retired-four-star-army-general-trump-serious-threat-to-us" target="_blank">The Hill</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Reluctantly I have concluded that President Trump is a serious threat to US national security. He is refusing to protect vital US interests from active Russian attacks. It is apparent that he is for some unknown reason under the sway of Mr Putin.</div>— Barry R McCaffrey (@mccaffreyr3) <a href="https://twitter.com/mccaffreyr3/status/974748724176941056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Trump will perpetuate bailouts by signing bank reform bill</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/opinion/finance/378777-trump-will-perpetuate-bailouts-by-signing-bank-reform-bill" target="_blank">The Hill</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>FBI’s Andrew McCabe is fired a little more than 24 hours before he could retire</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/fbis-andrew-mccabe-is-fired-a-little-more-than-24-hours-before-he-could-retire/2018/03/16/e055a22a-2895-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) Andrew McCabe, a Target of Trump’s F.B.I. Scorn, Is Fired Over Candor Questions (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/16/us/politics/andrew-mccabe-fbi-fired.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe’s fiery statement about Sessions’s decision to fire him: “I am being singled out and treated this way because of the role I played ... in the aftermath of the firing of James Comey.” (<a href="https://www.vox.com/2018/3/16/17132418/andrew-mccabe-statement" target="_blank">Vox</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">McCabe: "This attack on my credibility is one part of a larger effort not just to slander me personally, but to taint the FBI, law enforcement, and intelligence professionals... It is part of this Administration’s ongoing war on the FBI and the efforts of the Special Counsel."</div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/974836737435369472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">McCabe: "Here is the reality: I am being singled out and treated this way because of the role I played, the actions I took, and the events I witnessed in the aftermath of the firing of James Comey."</div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/974837765656457216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>How a responsible Congress would react to Trump’s destructive purges</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/03/16/how-a-responsible-congress-would-react-to-trumps-destructive-purges/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>) Trump is making one thing clear: He likes surrounding himself with people who like him (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/03/16/the-chaos-president-threatens-severe-damage-to-the-gop-and-the-country/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>) The ‘chaos president’ threatens severe damage to the GOP — and the country (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/03/16/the-chaos-president-threatens-severe-damage-to-the-gop-and-the-country/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) Burn It Down, Rex (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/16/opinion/burn-it-down-rex.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br />[THREAD:]<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Trump is done with McMaster and has been for some time. McMaster is also essentially saying "screw it" and not pushing to stay. But four admin sources say this anti-McMaster push is led much more by Kelly than Trump right now.</div>— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) <a href="https://twitter.com/maggieNYT/status/974484527279198208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">To be clear, we took our reporting to the White House well before we published our story. Not a single person pushed back, not even a little. <a href="https://t.co/zSSjMfgKbg">https://t.co/zSSjMfgKbg</a> <a href="https://t.co/PCYkU8mo5i">pic.twitter.com/PCYkU8mo5i</a></div>— Ashley Parker (@AshleyRParker) <a href="https://twitter.com/AshleyRParker/status/974499587225350144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">From the Dept of You Can’t Make This Up: “Trump has sometimes expressed confusion about what agencies and secretaries are in charge of what duties, a senior administration official said.” <a href="https://t.co/VwGYbg7Fj2">https://t.co/VwGYbg7Fj2</a> <a href="https://t.co/rI3MQYhPYv">pic.twitter.com/rI3MQYhPYv</a></div>— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/974457936792768517?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>John Kelly: Rex Tillerson Was on the Toilet When I Told Him He’d Be Getting Fired:</u></b> The White House chief of staff shared the story with a room of reporters and Trump administration officials Friday. (<a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/john-kelly-rex-tillerson-was-on-the-toilet-when-i-told-him-hed-be-getting-fired/" target="_blank">The Daily Beast</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">You’re Rex Tillerson. You’re the most powerful man in the world’s most powerful industry. You decide to leave it all to perform an act of public service. You are tormented by your new boss and humiliated during your time at State.<br /><br />And then, on the way out, this is done to you. <a href="https://t.co/A5FSlYpi4m">https://t.co/A5FSlYpi4m</a></div>— Sam Stein (@samstein) <a href="https://twitter.com/samstein/status/974781219274743808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Trump is creating a dangerous echo chamber around himself</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/16/opinions/trump-creates-echo-chamber-around-him-opinion-zelizer/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">"Trump is ... seeking people more likely to fall in line with his policies and tolerate his moods. ... To some, the White House is increasing taking on the feel of a team of cheerleaders"<a href="https://t.co/vxdlvvZAG8">https://t.co/vxdlvvZAG8</a></div>— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThePlumLineGS/status/974616694546190337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 16, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Republicans Say Forced Labor Is Good for Detained Immigrants in Letter Defending Private Prison:</u></b> GEO Group is being sued for paying aliens $1 a day or less while they’re locked up. GOP lawmakers say there’s nothing wrong with that. (<a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/republicans-say-forced-labor-is-good-for-detained-immigrants-in-letter-defending-private-prison/" target="_blank">The Daily Beast</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump wildlife protection board stuffed with trophy hunters:</u></b> A new U.S. advisory board created to help rewrite federal rules for importing the heads and hides of African elephants, lions and rhinos is stacked with trophy hunters, including some members with direct ties to President Donald Trump's family (<a href="https://apnews.com/07c11b7884174e68b75d6fdd52e9da91/Trump-wildlife-protection-board-stuffed-with-trophy-hunters" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>) Trump's 'Wildlife Conservation Council' Is a Nightmare of Trophy Hunters and Gun Industry Executives (<a href="https://theslot.jezebel.com/trumps-wildlife-conservation-council-is-a-nightmare-of-1823829050" target="_blank">Jezebel</a>) Reality Stars, Trophy Hunters, and Gun Boosters: Meet the Trump Administration’s Wildlife Conservation Council: “It’s really embarrassing. I just question the qualifications of each and every one of these people.” (<a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/03/reality-stars-trophy-hunters-and-gun-boosters-meet-the-trump-administrations-wildlife-conservation-council/" target="_blank">Mother Jones</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Stormy Daniels Faces $20 Million in Damages in Trump Lawsuit</u></b> (<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-16/trump-moves-stormy-daniels-lawsuit-to-federal-court" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>) Trump’s Lawyers Claim Stormy Daniels Violated Confidentiality Agreement at Least 20 Times (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/16/us/trumps-stormy-daniels-lawsuit.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump legal team moves to shift Stormy Daniels case to federal court</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/378886-trump-legal-team-moves-to-shift-stormy-daniels-case-to-federal-court" target="_blank">The Hill</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/RuthMarcus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RuthMarcus</a> is 100% right that Trump’s move to shift the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StormyDaniels?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#StormyDaniels</a> suit to federal court is DUMB and shouldn’t trouble <a href="https://twitter.com/StormyDaniels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StormyDaniels</a> in the least. If Trump’s countersuit survives a motion to dismiss (unlikely), it’ll expose <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> to DISCOVERY‼️</div>— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/tribelaw/status/974840432357232645?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Stormy Daniels' attorney claims she was physically threatened</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/16/politics/stormy-daniels-physical-threats-cnntv/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>) Daniels' lawyer says some alleged incidents took place during Trump presidency (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/16/politics/stormy-daniels-trump-allegations-cnntv/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>A Legal Screw-Up by Michael Cohen Should Give Stormy Daniels the Right to Tell Her Story</u></b> (<a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/03/a-legal-screw-up-by-michael-cohen-should-give-stormy-daniels-the-right-to-tell-her-story.html" target="_blank">Slate</a>)<br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-1155656252236160462018-03-15T22:01:00.002-07:002018-03-15T22:01:18.621-07:00Thursday roundup (03-15-18)<b><u>Euro zone banks may get reprieve until 2021 from ECB bad-debt rules</u></b> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-eurozone-banks-ecb/euro-zone-banks-may-get-reprieve-until-2021-from-ecb-bad-debt-rules-idUSKCN1GR0QL" target="_blank">Reuters</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>French central banker WARNS eurozone isn't prepared for NEXT euro crisis:</u></b> FRANCE'S top central banker expressed concerns that the eurozone may be unprepared for another economic crisis, which has wrought chaos across the continent in the last decade. (<a href="https://www.express.co.uk/finance/city/932241/pound-euro-exchange-rate-eurozone-crisis-France-economic-crisis" target="_blank">The Express</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Householders [in the UK] may be 'in too deep' over debt, says FCA</u></b> (<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-43423920" target="_blank">The BBC</a>) Bad debt Britain: Credit insurer claims hit highest level since the financial crisis (<a href="http://www.cityam.com/282345/bad-debt-britain-credit-insurer-claims-hit-highest-level" target="_blank">CityAM</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">At UN Security Council meeting, Amb. Haley says US believes Russia is responsible for nerve attack:<br /><br />"If we don’t take immediate, concrete measures to address this now, Salisbury will not be the last place we see chemical weapons used ... This is a defining moment." <a href="https://t.co/Rfs2fn5dDn">pic.twitter.com/Rfs2fn5dDn</a></div>— NBC News (@NBCNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/974010333416378369?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>UK, US, Germany, France unite to condemn attack on ex-spy:</u></b> Allies say there is ‘no plausible alternative explanation’ other than Russia being responsible. (<a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/uk-us-germany-france-unite-to-condemn-salisbury-attack-on-russia-ex-spy/" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump administration hits Russian spies, trolls with sanctions over U.S. election interference, cyberattacks</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/trump-administration-sanctions-russian-spies-trolls-over-us-election-interference-cyber-attacks/2018/03/15/3eaae186-284c-11e8-b79d-f3d931db7f68_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br />[ex Russia chief at Pentagon:]<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">These new sanctions are totally inconsequential. The previous administration had already sanctioned most of the entities and individuals designated today, so there's really nothing new here.&nbsp; &lt;THREAD 1 of 3&gt; <a href="https://t.co/CzM1xOST6c">https://t.co/CzM1xOST6c</a></div>— Michael Carpenter (@mikercarpenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikercarpenter/status/974314543114522625?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Furthermore, such narrowly targeted sanctions have little to no impact on the operations of Russia's intelligence services or its proxies, since these organizations don't transact (at least overtly) through the U.S. financial system.&nbsp; &lt;2 of 3&gt;</div>— Michael Carpenter (@mikercarpenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikercarpenter/status/974314725684150272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Finally, they have no impact on Russia's economy at all.&nbsp; I suspect the Trump administration will cite these designations as evidence that it is getting "tough" on Russia but in this case it's all smoke and mirrors. &lt;END&gt;</div>— Michael Carpenter (@mikercarpenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/mikercarpenter/status/974314797025067009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Most interesting thing about Russia sanctions: Treasury accepts as fact what Mueller has alleged. That means the executive branch, whose head derides the Mueller investigation as a 'hoax,' has formally given the stamp of approval on what intel and law enforcement concluded.</div>— Michael Weiss (@michaeldweiss) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaeldweiss/status/974296389894238214?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>In fundraising speech, Trump says he made up trade claim in meeting with Justin Trudeau</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2018/03/14/in-fundraising-speech-trump-says-he-made-up-facts-in-meeting-with-justin-trudeau/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) Why Trump’s admission that he made stuff up to Justin Trudeau is particularly bad (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/03/15/why-trumps-admission-that-he-made-stuff-up-to-justin-trudeau-is-particularly-bad/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Bragging about lying to an ally. How stupid. How Trump. Even worse he didnt know we have a surplus <a href="https://t.co/20hjOMoqho">https://t.co/20hjOMoqho</a></div>— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) <a href="https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger/status/974118188614144000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">He doesn’t even know if we have a trade surplus when passing tariffs. He will bluff/mislead an ally. He’s so proud of himself he repeats. Even when exposed, he doubles down. US policy is to trick our allies and humiliate them for falling for it<br /> <a href="https://t.co/myUs2qdDNH">https://t.co/myUs2qdDNH</a></div>— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) <a href="https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger/status/974334812004802560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The United States actually has a $12.5 billion trade *surplus* with Canada, according to the U.S. Trade Representative's facts <a href="https://t.co/tnVkK7Prta">https://t.co/tnVkK7Prta</a> <a href="https://t.co/avFiGdO0bF">https://t.co/avFiGdO0bF</a></div>— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilipRucker/status/974277593842307072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>‘There Will Always Be Change,’ Trump Says as More Personnel Shake-Ups Loom</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/15/us/politics/trump-white-house-turnover.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump decides to remove national security adviser [H.R. McMaster, successor of Michael Flynn (fired)], and others may follow</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-decides-to-remove-national-security-adviser-and-others-may-follow/2018/03/15/fea2ebae-285c-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Mike Pompeo's Allies on the Anti-Muslim Right:</u></b> The new secretary of state nominee hasn’t merely consorted with anti-Muslim bigots. He has echoed their arguments. (<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/03/pompeo-muslims/555680/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a>) With Mike Pompeo at the State Department, Are the Über-Hawks Winning? (<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/with-mike-pompeo-at-the-state-department-are-the-uber-hawks-winning" target="_blank">The New Yorker</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Telling the Truth About CIA Torture:</u></b> Trump’s nominee to lead the agency should answer a number of tough questions about her role in its now-defunct “enhanced interrogation” program. (<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/03/telling-the-truth-about-cia-torture/555662/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a>) ‘She Should Be in Jail’—Rights Groups Rally to Stop Torture Overseer Turned Trump CIA Pick Gina Haspel: To civil-liberties groups, approving Haspel would tell a generation of CIA officers ‘that torture, or other activity outside the bounds of the law, is not a career-killer.’ (<a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/she-should-be-in-jailrights-groups-rally-to-stop-torture-overseer-turned-trump-cia-pick-gina-haspel" target="_blank">The Daily Beast</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Torture is illegal under international law, US Law, and prohibited by the Army Field Manual. It is wrong, it is against our American values and interests, and it simply doesn’t work. I’m a NO on Gina Haspel to run the CIA.</div>— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianschatz/status/974092368612876293?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Mueller Just Stepped Over Trump's Red Line:</u></b> The president once warned the prosecutor to stay out of his family business. The reply: subpoenas. (<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-03-15/robert-mueller-s-subpoenas-cross-trump-s-red-line" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>) Mueller Subpoenas Trump Organization, Demanding Documents About Russia (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/15/us/politics/trump-organization-subpoena-mueller-russia.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">“The order is the first known time that the special counsel demanded documents directly related to President Trump’s businesses, bringing the investigation closer to the president.” <a href="https://t.co/bY86LeZ7Zl">https://t.co/bY86LeZ7Zl</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/974343244799795202?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The Mueller subpoena for a broad swath of Russia-related financial documents and emails marks the Rubicon that Trump dared Mueller to cross. Mueller has now called Trump’s bluff. No court would agree to quash this subpoena. Time’s up, Donald.</div>— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/tribelaw/status/974422645784694784?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>White House disregarded Republican investigators’ requests. The GOP has been reluctant to fight back.</u></b> (<a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article205270699.html" target="_blank">McClatchy Washington Bureau</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Mnuchin’s plane travel [in eight trips] cost taxpayers $1 million, documents show</u></b> (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/15/steven-mnuchin-plane-travel-cost-421176" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">BREAKING: we FOIA’d Mnuchin travel docs &amp; he makes Carson and the others look like pikers—he blew over $1 million of your money flying military aircraft, with no apparent justification. His predecessors flew commercial. <a href="https://t.co/SC9r4apvYH">https://t.co/SC9r4apvYH</a></div>— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) <a href="https://twitter.com/NormEisen/status/974355857654910976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u>Trump Cabinet members accused of living large at taxpayer expense</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-cabinet-members-accused-of-living-large-at-taxpayer-expense/2018/03/14/9f9476c4-27a7-11e8-b79d-f3d931db7f68_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) The Trump Cabinet members accused of splurging (<a href="https://www.axios.com/the-trump-cabinet-members-accused-of-splurging-dfc39470-321c-44ec-9ff9-c0b88d8bbdf6.html" target="_blank">Axios</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump’s personal aide apparently lost White House position over gambling habit</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trumps-personal-aide-lost-white-house-position-over-gambling-habit/2018/03/15/2cfa9736-288f-11e8-bc72-077aa4dab9ef_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) Trump aide John McEntee escorted out of White House, moves to campaign (<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/03/13/trump-aide-john-mcentee-escorted-out-white-house-moves-to-campaign.html" target="_blank">FoxNews</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>US housing department adviser quits amid questions of fraud and inflated biography:</u></b> Naved Jafry, who called for radical privatization to fix America’s cities, steps down following inquiry from the Guardian about his record (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/15/ben-carson-adviser-naved-jafry-resigns-hud" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>The ‘Enthusiasm Gap’ Could Turn A Democratic Wave Into A Tsunami</u></b> (<a href="https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-enthusiasm-gap-could-turn-a-democratic-wave-into-a-tsunami/" target="_blank">five thirty-eight</a>)&nbsp; Republicans, snap out of it. A blue tsunami could be coming. (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/03/15/republicans-snap-out-of-it-a-blue-tsunami-could-be-coming/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>) President Donald Trump Loses In Trump Country | The Last Word (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPcOtI8GDpQ" target="_blank">MSNBC</a>)<br /><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="224" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BPcOtI8GDpQ?rel=0" width="400"></iframe><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">As usual, <a href="https://twitter.com/Lawrence?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lawrence</a> distills the point to its essence: Conor Lamb won in a PA district that was gerrymandered specifically so no Democrat could ever win. He won in a district so blatantly gerrymandered a court ordered it abolished, such that PA18 won't even exist come November.</div>— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/974104714718666752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Munich Re to cut 900 jobs, nudges up profit forecast</u></b> (<a href="https://in.reuters.com/article/munich-re-results/update-2-munich-re-to-cut-900-jobs-nudges-up-profit-forecast-idINL8N1QX0YJ" target="_blank">Reuters</a>)<br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-77734123156837970792018-03-15T21:51:00.003-07:002018-03-15T21:51:23.151-07:00Initial jobless claims (Weekly report, 03-15-18)The purpose of this weekly post is to watch how initial jobless claims in the United States are trending (up or down) and to keep track of whether the numbers are holding below 500,000, which would indicate at least the appearance of a fairly healthy economic situation.<br /><br />According to the report released today:<br /><br />"Initial U.S. jobless claims declined by 4,000 to 226,000 in the seven days ended March 10, the government said Thursday." (<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/jobless-claims-drop-4000-to-226000-2018-03-15" target="_blank">Marketwatch</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://economicsignsofthetimes.blogspot.com/2018/03/initial-jobless-claims-weekly-report-03_8.html" target="_blank">SEE LAST WEEK'S POST HERE.</a><br /><i><br /></i><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-2664091615859287572018-03-14T21:57:00.004-07:002018-03-14T21:58:05.703-07:00Wednesday roundup (03-14-18)<b><u>‘One leak and we’ll all drown’: top Chinese lawmaker raises alarm over river of local government debt:</u></b> NPC Standing Committee member says liabilities have been hidden and vastly underestimated (<a href="http://www.scmp.com/news/china/economy/article/2137148/one-leak-and-well-all-drown-top-chinese-lawmaker-raises-alarm" target="_blank">The South China Morning Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Quebec will dip into its rainy-day fund to pay back billions in debt</u></b> (<a href="https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-quebec-will-dip-into-its-rainy-day-fund-to-pay-back-billions-in-debt/" target="_blank">The Globe and Mail of Toronto</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>[The United States] Senate passes rollback of banking rules enacted after financial crisis</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/senate-passes-rollback-of-post-financial-crisis-banking-rules/2018/03/14/43837aae-27bd-11e8-b79d-f3d931db7f68_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) Senate vote to weaken Dodd-Frank risks another financial crisis (<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/senate-vote-to-weaken-dodd-frank-risks-another-financial-crisis-2018-03-14" target="_blank">Marketwatch</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>U.S. retail sales fall for third month in a row:</u></b> Retailers get off to slow start in 2018; auto, gas sales sink (<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-retail-sales-fall-for-third-month-in-a-row-2018-03-14" target="_blank">Marketwatch</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Conor Lamb Wins Pennsylvania House Seat, Giving Democrats a Map for Trump Country</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/us/politics/democrats-republicans-pennsylvania-special-election.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) Here's why the Pennsylvania special-election result should freak out Republicans (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/conor-lamb-rick-saccone-pennsylvania-special-election-should-terrify-republicans-2018-3" target="_blank">The Business Insider</a>) Why the Pennsylvania special election was a gut punch for the GOP (<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/first-read/why-pennsylvania-special-election-was-gut-punch-gop-n856491" target="_blank">NBCNews</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump Wants Them Out of There”: After Swinging the Axe at Tillerson, Trump Mulls What to Do with McMaster, Sessions, Jared, and Ivanka:</u></b> With tariffs done, Trump’s sights are now on the Iran deal—and, possibly, the Russia investigation. “The president is finally realizing he is the president,” a former White House official told me. “He’s just making these decisions on his own.” (<a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/03/trump-swinging-the-axe-at-tillerson-mcmaster-sessions-jared-and-ivanka" target="_blank">VanityFair</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">This is RUMINT, but pretty credible RUMINT: Trump preparing to fire Sessions, name Pruitt Acting AG (which he can be since he already holds a Senate confirmed position), and Pruitt fires Mueller. And McMaster likely to be replaced by Bolton. Shulkin also on way out, FWIW.</div>— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/974043159113207810?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Recall this, from January: "Scott Pruitt, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, has told friends and associates that he’s interested in becoming attorney general."<a href="https://t.co/ru9BVeOFn6">https://t.co/ru9BVeOFn6</a></div>— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/974103318208401408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Lots of chatter about a "blood bath" with more <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> staff changes.&nbsp; Top of the list - H.R. McMaster to be replaced by <a href="https://twitter.com/AmbJohnBolton?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AmbJohnBolton</a> .&nbsp; Sources say McMaster departure is "imminent".&nbsp; More changes expected as well</div>— John Roberts (@johnrobertsFox) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnrobertsFox/status/974048887399952384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN John Bolton is "waiting in the wings to replace [H.R.] McMaster," <a href="https://twitter.com/MajorCBS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MajorCBS</a> reports; "the sense that H.R. McMaster's days are numbered as national security adviser has reached something close to a fever pitch" <a href="https://t.co/MVXWePSct0">https://t.co/MVXWePSct0</a> <a href="https://t.co/upoej56b20">pic.twitter.com/upoej56b20</a></div>— CBS News (@CBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/974004845614125057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>[The Trump White House, says one official in it, is] "The most toxic working environment on the planet"</u></b> (<a href="https://www.axios.com/the-most-toxic-working-environment-on-the-planet-1521061118-87211185-63b7-468b-aa1b-880f3dcaf524.html" target="_blank">Axios</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Kudlow to be top White House economic adviser as Trump adds longtime loyalist</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/kudlow-to-be-top-white-house-economic-adviser-as-trump-adds-longtime-loyalist/2018/03/14/a228fdca-27a6-11e8-874b-d517e912f125_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) Larry Kudlow may have been more wrong about the economy than anyone alive (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/larry-kudlow-may-have-been-more-wrong-about-the-economy-than-anyone-alive/2018/03/14/a98f2292-27ce-11e8-b79d-f3d931db7f68_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) Trump’s pick for National Economic Council is a CNBC host who gives bad financial advice (<a href="https://www.mediamatters.org/research/2018/03/13/trump-s-pick-national-economic-council-cnbc-host-who-gives-bad-financial-advice/219619" target="_blank">MediaMatters</a>) Larry Kudlow is usually wrong (<a href="http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2018/03/larry-kudlow-is-usually-wrong.html" target="_blank">Calculated Risk blog</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Here’s the case: Trump has the worst Cabinet ever</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/03/14/heres-the-case-trump-has-the-worst-cabinet-ever/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Emails show Carson, wife picked $31K furniture set: report</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/378299-emails-show-carson-wife-picked-31k-furniture-set-report" target="_blank">The Hill</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Scott Pruitt’s $25,000 soundproof phone booth? It actually cost more like $43,000.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/03/14/scott-pruitts-25000-soundproof-phone-booth-it-actually-cost-more-like-43000/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Docs link Trump Org lawyer to effort to silence porn star [Stormy Daniels]</u></b> (<a href="https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/politics/article/Docs-link-Trump-Org-lawyer-to-effort-to-silence-12754345.php" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Whoops. Gotcha! <a href="https://t.co/7bU7GvVxsY">https://t.co/7bU7GvVxsY</a></div>— Crockett Policy Inst (@CrockettPolicy) <a href="https://twitter.com/CrockettPolicy/status/974082427470655488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Thousands of students march on the White House to call for better gun control</u></b> (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/14/students-teachers-march-gun-control-461746" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>National School Walkout: Thousands Protest Against Gun Violence Across the U.S.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/14/us/school-walkout.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) A generation raised on gun violence sends a loud message to adults: Enough (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/14/us/national-school-walkout-gun-violence-protests/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">It’s been one month.<br /><br />The world hasn’t forgotten those we’ve lost and those who have had to fight for their lives in the hospital.<br /><br />This isn’t ‘just another’ mass shooting like the NRA wants it to be. <br /><br />This is different. We’ve made a promise.<br /><br />The world is changing.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NeverAgain?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NeverAgain</a></div>— Cameron Kasky (@cameron_kasky) <a href="https://twitter.com/cameron_kasky/status/973893984572657665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Students at New York City's Convent of the Sacred Heart line up to protest gun violence during <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NationalWalkoutDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NationalWalkoutDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/ShBZV6Fs16">https://t.co/ShBZV6Fs16</a> <a href="https://t.co/c9zMLKxE3l">pic.twitter.com/c9zMLKxE3l</a></div>— TicToc by Bloomberg (@tictoc) <a href="https://twitter.com/tictoc/status/973936145376710657?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">A really remarkable scene at the Idaho statehouse - students packed for four floors <a href="https://t.co/v9q3imyiAR">pic.twitter.com/v9q3imyiAR</a></div>— Anne Helen Petersen (@annehelen) <a href="https://twitter.com/annehelen/status/973971475895017473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">It’s sad that the NRA is tougher on kids walking out of school to support gun control than a kid walking into a school with an AR-15.</div>— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) <a href="https://twitter.com/tonyposnanski/status/974066552323624960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Toys 'R' Us plans to close all U.S. stores; 33,000 jobs at risk: source</u></b> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-toys-r-us-bankruptcy/toys-r-us-will-likely-shut-all-u-s-stores-risking-33000-jobs-wsj-idUSKCN1GQ36S" target="_blank">Reuters</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Toys R Us to shut all UK stores, resulting in 3,000 job losses:</u></b> Retailer to start closing shops from Thursday as rescue talks fail to find a buyer (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/mar/14/toys-r-us-to-shut-all-uk-stores-resulting-in-3000-job-losses" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>)<br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-79339365818836960772018-03-13T19:46:00.001-07:002018-03-13T19:46:31.097-07:00Tuesday roundup (03-13-18)<b><u>May wins backing of Trump, EU leaders in showdown with Russia</u></b> (<a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-russia/may-wins-backing-of-trump-eu-leaders-in-showdown-with-russia-idUKKCN1GP0P2" target="_blank">Reuters</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>43 top economists were polled on Trump's latest big policy — not a single one said it would help Americans</u></b> (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-steel-aluminum-tariffs-poll-economist-survey-2018-3" target="_blank">The Business Insider</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>‘It was a different mind-set’: How Trump soured on Tillerson as his top diplomat</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/it-was-a-different-mind-set-how-trump-soured-on-tillerson-as-his-top-diplomat/2018/03/13/899b1fba-26d7-11e8-b79d-f3d931db7f68_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) Tillerson’s insubordination meant he had to go (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/tillersons-insubordination-meant-he-had-to-go/2018/03/13/35aaf386-26e0-11e8-874b-d517e912f125_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) In 56 words, Trump confirms ‘fake news’ on his relationship with Rex Tillerson (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2018/03/13/in-56-words-trump-confirms-fake-news-on-his-relationship-with-rex-tillerson/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>) The Mess Rex Tillerson Is Leaving Behind (<a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/03/the-mess-rex-tillerson-is-leaving-behind.html" target="_blank">NewYork</a>) The long road to Tillerson's ouster (<a href="https://www.axios.com/the-long-road-to-tillersons-ouster-9c59e13b-9072-4d2b-82ff-677d624ac5f9.html" target="_blank">Axios</a>) Why Did Trump Fire Tillerson Now?: The specific timing of the move—following the secretary of state’s split from the president to condemn a Russian attack in the U.K.—raises questions about its motive. (<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/03/exodus-rex/555473/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">so Trump’s whole shtick of telling people “you’re fired” was strictly performance art — he can’t do it face to face, he can’t do it on the phone, he can’t do it by letter, he can’t do it in reality only on reality TV</div>— Philip Gourevitch (@PGourevitch) <a href="https://twitter.com/PGourevitch/status/973553023560626177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">So the day after Secretary Tillerson says Kremlin aggression has been escalating because we have failed to respond to their bad behavior -- suddenly, it's retirement time. <br /><br />So now we go into North Korea talks with no SecState, senior NK diplomat, or ambassador. <br /><br />All fine here.</div>— Molly McKew (@MollyMcKew) <a href="https://twitter.com/MollyMcKew/status/973541080229728257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The difference between WH story (Tillerson notified on Friday) and Tillerson's apparent story (blindsided today) is the difference between his being fired *before* promising response to Russia's UK attack and *after* doing so. <br /><br />Hard to overstate how important this is.</div>— Christopher Orr (@OrrChris) <a href="https://twitter.com/OrrChris/status/973558647354732544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The core story on Tillerson--he criticizes Moscow for an attack on the UK and is fired within 24 hours.</div>— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) <a href="https://twitter.com/djrothkopf/status/973541034574733312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">I served in Congress with Mike Pompeo, he's a great guy. That's not the story.<br /><br />Rex Tillerson may always have been a bad pick. That's not the story.<br /><br />The President fired his Secretary of State via a tweet. He didn't have the guts or the decency to speak to him.<br /><br />That's the story.</div>— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) <a href="https://twitter.com/WalshFreedom/status/973568817505894400?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">“Expect a possible tweet” is the way that President Trump’s Chief of Staff apparently warned Rex Tillerson, America’s top diplomat, that he might lose his job. What a dumpster fire of governance. <a href="https://t.co/Tg3suzjAEZ">https://t.co/Tg3suzjAEZ</a></div>— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianklaas/status/973597033415266305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Tillerson was the worst secretary of state since the United States’ rise to global power began in 1898. And yet the manner in which “Rexit” finally occurred was despicable. My <a href="https://twitter.com/PostOpinions?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PostOpinions</a> column: <a href="https://t.co/9jRT1nzLpF">https://t.co/9jRT1nzLpF</a></div>— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/973639165404364800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Trump shakeup takes down Tillerson[; are more departures on the way?]</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/378239-white-house-ready-for-additional-shake-up-after-tillerson-firing" target="_blank">The Hill</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">People close to the White House say they expect more major personnel shifts this week. An effort to rip off the bandaid fast on a number of fronts is likely.</div>— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) <a href="https://twitter.com/maggieNYT/status/973587885277532160?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">More changes expected include a McMaster departure soon, as NBC recently reported. Among replacements, Tillerson had expressed concerns about working with Bolton.</div>— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) <a href="https://twitter.com/maggieNYT/status/973623540384718848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Rex Tillerson joins the very long list of high-profile White House departures:</u></b> A guide to the resignations, ousters, and firings of the Trump administration. (<a href="https://www.vox.com/2018/3/6/17088334/rex-tillerson-trump-white-house-staff-exits" target="_blank">Vox</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Pompeo can make the State Department great again</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/josh-rogin/wp/2018/03/13/pompeo-can-bring-the-state-department-back-in-the-foreign-policy-game/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) Trump Chose Pompeo as Kindred Spirit to Take Over U.S. Diplomacy (<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-13/trump-chose-pompeo-as-kindred-spirit-to-take-over-u-s-diplomacy" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>) Under Pompeo, a Foreign Policy That Fits the President’s Worldview (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/13/us/politics/analysis-pompeo-foreign-policy-america-first-tillerson.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">He doesn't believe in climate change. He wants to tear up the Iran deal. He minimizes concerns about Russian interference in our elections. Yes, Mike Pompeo is bad news. <a href="https://t.co/GVBuJ9ZI9l">https://t.co/GVBuJ9ZI9l</a></div>— NYT Opinion (@nytopinion) <a href="https://twitter.com/nytopinion/status/973727182689316864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">A useful summary of Pompeo’s calls for war with Iran, even as deal was being negotiated and later when it was proven to be working. He is a disastrous pick. This will not end well. <a href="https://t.co/ZpPx53vN9l">https://t.co/ZpPx53vN9l</a></div>— Joe Cirincione (@Cirincione) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cirincione/status/973551748005683200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>A controversial intelligence officer who ran a secret US prison in Thailand could be the first female CIA chief</u></b> (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/gina-haspel-bio-cia-black-sites-torture-first-woman-director-2018-3" target="_blank">The Business Insider</a>) Gina Haspel, C.I.A. Deputy Director, Had Leading Role in Torture (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/02/us/politics/cia-deputy-director-gina-haspel-torture-thailand.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) John McCain slams Trump's nominee for CIA director for participating in ‘one of the darkest chapters in American history’ (<a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/john-mccain-trump-cia-nominee-gina-haspel-torture" target="_blank">The Washington Examiner</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Some background on new CIA Director nominee Gina Haspel and her role overseeing the torture of 2 alleged terrorists at a black site in Thailand <a href="https://t.co/KNFRRkPW5w">https://t.co/KNFRRkPW5w</a></div>— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) <a href="https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/973541867114639360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Gina Haspel, Trump's pick for CIA chief, oversaw a secret CIA prison known as a "black site" in Thailand, where a 2014 Senate report concluded a suspected al Qaeda member was waterboarded 83 times in one month, sleep deprived, and at one point feared dead. <a href="https://t.co/3earN2ke5V">https://t.co/3earN2ke5V</a></div>— Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) <a href="https://twitter.com/rebeccaballhaus/status/973653524901920774?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The good news is that Haspel, a 30-year veteran of the CIA will replace Pompeo. She drew rave reviews from former acting CIA director John McLaughlin, who told me she is a “consummate professional” and “well-respected throughout the Agency.” <a href="https://t.co/JOdX1DlIjS">https://t.co/JOdX1DlIjS</a></div>— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) <a href="https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger/status/973556509245308928?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The Trump era makes a lot more sense when you remember that each of his cabinet members was handpicked for their determination to dismantle the agency they lead, and he was voted in by people who want to dismantle every single thing about America that made Barack Obama possible.</div>— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/973280256063877120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>House Intelligence Committee Republicans deliberately ignored the obvious</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/03/13/house-intelligence-committee-republicans-deliberately-ignored-the-obvious/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) House Intel Dems Put Out Status Report on Russia Probe: We Were ‘Prevented from Pursuing’ Threads (<a href="https://www.mediaite.com/tv/house-intel-dems-put-out-status-report-on-russia-probe-we-were-prevented-from-pursuing-threads/" target="_blank">Mediaite</a>) It’s official: The House Intelligence Committee is a joke (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/03/13/its-official-the-house-intelligence-committee-is-a-joke/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Republican House Intell Comm shut down Russia probe before doing a complete job This is a coverup and a lasting stain on the reputation of what used to be a bipartisan Committee when it was run by Republican Rogers and Democrat Ruppersberger. Politics beat a desire for the truth</div>— Eric Holder (@EricHolder) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricHolder/status/973353188152807424?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The CIA, 18 other federal agencies, and a federal grand jury all found Russia intervened for Trump. But sure, they are all wrong... <a href="https://t.co/O4jDRAtQAW">https://t.co/O4jDRAtQAW</a></div>— Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) <a href="https://twitter.com/RonaldKlain/status/973371275912478720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/EricHolder?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EricHolder</a> is 100% right. As I wrote today, the dishonor, disgrace and degradation of the Republicans is complete: <a href="https://t.co/ejsKKYWzm1">https://t.co/ejsKKYWzm1</a> <a href="https://t.co/wBWO07TuzY">https://t.co/wBWO07TuzY</a></div>— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/973655667285286912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Trey Gowdy, the only HPSCI Republican to read the Carter Page FISA application, parts ways with the majority draft report claiming the Russians didn't have a preference for Trump:<a href="https://t.co/8aFi7pA7iW">https://t.co/8aFi7pA7iW</a></div>— mieke eoyang (@MiekeEoyang) <a href="https://twitter.com/MiekeEoyang/status/973688402154610692?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">My prediction: Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee will look even more stupid when more and more people get indicted.<br /><br />Special Counsel Mueller didn't get Flynn and Papadopoulos and Nader to flip for no reason. <a href="https://t.co/GCzYGvWdZ0">https://t.co/GCzYGvWdZ0</a></div>— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/973337054368026624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Trumpocracy: Tracking the Creeping Authoritarianism of the 45th President:</u></b> Conspiracy theories, attacks on the press, praise for tyrants, and other troubling moves by the Trump administration. (<a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/03/creeping-authoritarianism-trump-trumpocracy-300/" target="_blank">MotherJones</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>GOP, conservative groups have spent $10 million-plus on the PA-18 special election</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/13/politics/outside-spending-pa-18/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Deep in Trump country, this should have been a slam-dunk for Republicans.&nbsp; <a href="https://t.co/6OgG0bQNFM">https://t.co/6OgG0bQNFM</a></div>— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) <a href="https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger/status/973618667803041792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 13, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>The contract between Trump and Stormy Daniels is void</u></b> [Letter to the Editor] (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-contract-between-trump-and-stormy-daniels-is-void/2018/03/12/ae47b64c-22f0-11e8-946c-9420060cb7bd_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) It’s time to start taking the Stormy Daniels scandal seriously: It’s tawdry. It’s funny. But it’s also about corruption and national security. (<a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/3/13/17108154/stormy-daniels-scandal-trump-alleged-affair" target="_blank">Vox</a>)<br /><i><br /></i><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-10402748821134357182018-03-12T18:56:00.002-07:002018-03-12T18:56:53.389-07:00Monday roundup (03-12-18)<b><u>Former top US negotiator says [North Korea's] Kim is 'in the driver's seat'</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/12/politics/north-korea-us-kim-jong-un-wendy-sherman/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>China is at risk of a banking crisis, the Bank of International Settlements has found</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/12/bank-of-international-settlements-countries-at-risk-of-banking-crisis.html" target="_blank">CNBC</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Canadian household debt hits $1.8 trillion as global watchdog warns of risks to economy:</u></b> 37% of Canadians added to their debt, pushing average up to $22,837 per person, not including mortgages (<a href="http://business.financialpost.com/personal-finance/debt/canadian-household-debt-hits-1-8t-as-report-warns-of-domestic-risk" target="_blank">The Canadian Press</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>U.S. Posts Biggest Budget Deficit Since 2012</u></b> (<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-12/u-s-posts-biggest-budget-deficit-since-2012-as-tax-income-falls" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>) U.S. February budget report shows first sign of wider deficits to come: $215 billion shortfall as revenue falls and spending rises (<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-february-budget-report-shows-first-signs-of-wider-deficits-to-come-2018-03-12" target="_blank">Marketwatch</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Republican senator [Jeff Flake] puts forward bill to quash Trump's new tariffs</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/12/republican-senator-puts-forward-bill-to-quash-trumps-new-tariffs.html" target="_blank">CNBC</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Russia probe: House intel Republicans end investigation, find 'no evidence' of collusion</u></b> (<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/03/12/russia-probe-house-intel-republicans-end-investigation-despite-dem-protests/411745002/" target="_blank">USAToday</a>) House panel concludes Russia probe, finding no coordination with Trump campaign (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/12/house-panel-russia-investigation-trump-457560" target="_blank">Politico</a>) House Republicans break with intelligence community on Russia (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/12/politics/house-republicans-russia-conclusions/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br />[Rep. Tom Rooney is a Republican:]<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Rep. Tom Rooney just went on <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNN</a> and contradicted the <a href="https://twitter.com/GOP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GOP</a> House Intelligence Committee.<br /><br />Rooney said Russia did try &amp; help Trump get elected.<br /><br />Asked why his committee was ending the probe, Rooney said his committee has “gone completely off the rails” &amp; “lost all credibility.”</div>— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) <a href="https://twitter.com/AhmedBaba_/status/973339476872310789?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Several witnesses thought to be central to the investigation never came before the panel, NYT notes, including:<br />—Paul Manafort<br />—Rick Gates<br />—Michael Flynn<br />—George Papadopoulos<br /><br />"Others, including George Nader... only recently came to the committee’s attention." <a href="https://t.co/nRfZK9hkZx">https://t.co/nRfZK9hkZx</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/973320265374543872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">BREAKING: GOP just shut down House Intel investigation, leaving questions unanswered, leads unexplored, countless witnesses uncalled, subpoenas unissued.<br /><br />If Russians have leverage over the President, GOP has decided that it would rather not know. The minority's work continues: <a href="https://t.co/oOf13n75Vo">pic.twitter.com/oOf13n75Vo</a></div>— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff/status/973334911326343168?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Schiff responds: “In the coming weeks and months, new information will continue to be exposed... And each time this new information becomes public, Republicans will be held accountable for abandoning a critical investigation of such vital national importance.” <a href="https://t.co/4fgdLRsQ2a">pic.twitter.com/4fgdLRsQ2a</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/973332834134917122?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Megyn Kelly: I think Putin has something on Trump</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/377803-megyn-kelly-i-think-putin-has-something-on-trump" target="_blank">The Hill</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>White House officials alarmed at education secretary's '60 Minutes' performance</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/12/politics/white-house-officials-alarmed-at-betsy-devos/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Republicans wage 11th-hour blitz in Pa. special election:</u></b> The GOP tried everything to save itself and Donald Trump from embarrassment — including calling Democrat Conor Lamb too conservative. (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/12/pennsylvania-special-election-lamb-saccone-454728" target="_blank">Politico</a>) Poll: Democrat Lamb leads Saccone [by 6 points] in Pennsylvania special election [in which Trump just campaigned] (<a href="https://www.axios.com/monmouth-poll-democrat-lamb-leads-saccone-in-pennsylvania-special-election-1cb2ae09-a8cb-499c-b933-c80c13a97f93.html" target="_blank">Axios</a>) Trump privately trashes Rick Saccone (<a href="https://www.axios.com/scoop-trump-privately-trashes-rick-saccone-1520806446-c7033bad-f7a4-4d92-80a7-40113967a0e2.html" target="_blank">Axios</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Ivanka Trump never cut ties with the Trump Organization. That’s turned into a problem.</u></b> (<a href="http://www.mcclatchydc.com/article204578309.html" target="_blank">McClatchy Washington Bureau</a>) ‘Where is Ivanka?’ First daughter seeks control in dual role as White House aide (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/where-is-ivanka-first-daughter-seeks-control-in-dual-role-as-white-house-aide/2018/03/11/62072a7a-23bc-11e8-94da-ebf9d112159c_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump’s Lawyers Seem to Be Getting Desperate</u></b> (<a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/03/trumps-lawyers-seem-to-be-getting-desperate.html" target="_blank">New York</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Stormy Daniels Offers to Return Payment to End Deal for Her Silence</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/12/business/media/stormy-daniels-donald-trump.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) Did the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels break the law? (<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/03/12/did-130-000-payment-stormy-daniels-break-law/417111002/" target="_blank">USAToday</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Under the offer, Daniels would be able to “(a) speak openly and freely about her prior relationship with the President and the attempts to silence her and (b) use any publish any text messages, photos and/or videos relating to the President that she may have in her possession.” <a href="https://t.co/WXwSKoC5d5">https://t.co/WXwSKoC5d5</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/973220945136685056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 12, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Melania Knew</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/11/opinion/melania-trump-stormy.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Despite recent rhetoric, Trump abandons ambitious plans on guns</u></b> (<a href="http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/despite-recent-rhetoric-trump-abandons-ambitious-plans-guns" target="_blank">MSNBC</a>) Look who’s afraid of the NRA now: Trump owes Toomey an apology (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/03/12/look-whos-afraid-of-the-nra-now-trump-owes-toomey-an-apology/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>) Trump’s surrender (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trumps-surrender/2018/03/12/30272a20-2635-11e8-874b-d517e912f125_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) [Fox's] Shep Smith Rips Trump's Gun Wimp-Out: 'The NRA Gets To Them And That's That' (<a href="https://crooksandliars.com/2018/03/shep-smith-rips-trumps-gun-wimp-out-nra" target="_blank">Crooks and Liars blog</a>) Shep Smith on Trump caving to the NRA: "The NRA gets to them, and that's that" (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhCIvL6xro8" target="_blank">Youtube</a>)<br /><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IhCIvL6xro8?rel=0" width="400"></iframe><br /><br /><b><u>EON to Cut 5,000 Jobs in Deal to Shakeup of German Utilities</u></b> (<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-12/eon-to-cut-5-000-jobs-in-deal-to-shakeup-german-utility-industry" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>)<br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-12328347144615216412018-03-11T16:50:00.004-07:002018-03-11T16:50:43.173-07:00Sunday roundup (03-11-18)<b><u>[In the United States,] Planning Begins for Kim Jong-un Meeting Some Trump Aides Believe Will Never Happen</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/09/us/politics/trump-kim-jong-un-meeting-planning.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) In Trump’s decision on North Korea, the world glimpses a president who is his own diplomat, negotiator and strategist [March 9] (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-trumps-decision-on-north-korea-the-world-glimpses-a-president-who-is-his-own-diplomat-negotiator-and-strategist/2018/03/09/1f5eb80a-23b7-11e8-94da-ebf9d112159c_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>How Chuck Todd responded to Trump's vulgar insult</u></b> (<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/11/media/chuck-todd-sleepy-trump/index.html" target="_blank">CNNMoney</a>) Unhinged and Uncensored, Trump Lets Loose at Pennsylvania Rally: While campaigning for Rick Saccone, Trump offered a chilling preview of 2020. (<a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/03/trump-pennsylvania-saccone-rally" target="_blank">VanityFair</a>) Happy Sunday from SXSW: Trump tries to boost Saccone in Pennsylvania, as Elizabeth Warren does a round of Sunday shows [see section on Maggie Haberman] (<a href="https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2018/03/11/happy-sunday-from-sxsw-trump-tries-to-boost-saccone-in-pennsylvania-as-elizabeth-warren-does-a-round-of-sunday-shows-253191" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The president of the United States is heaping praise on North Korea’s dictator and China’s “president for life,” but is attacking the free press and personally disparaging American journalists.</div>— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilipRucker/status/972628934499160064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">I can’t let go of this.<br /><br />It’s despicable to see the President of the United States speak like this in general. It’s doubly ugly to have him openly attack a member of the press w/ these words. <br /><br />It creates a very dangerous and hateful mob mentality. <a href="https://t.co/W6iv4vGPzE">https://t.co/W6iv4vGPzE</a></div>— Shaun King (@ShaunKing) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShaunKing/status/972873282256015360?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Here's the video of the President of the United States calling a network news host a "sleeping son of a bitch." (via Fox) <a href="https://t.co/aiB5zai2Zi">pic.twitter.com/aiB5zai2Zi</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/972635745142878213?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Pres Trump at a Penn rally calls my colleague and friend Chuck Todd a “sleeping SON OF A BITCH.”<br />Really classy.<br />Explain that to your children.</div>— Tom Brokaw (@tombrokaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/tombrokaw/status/972663612341981184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 11, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>EPA's Science Advisory Board Has Not Met in 6 Months:</u></b> Agency officials blame paperwork and the human resources department (<a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/epas-science-advisory-board-has-not-met-in-6-months/" target="_blank">The Scientific American</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Ascension layoffs total 500, with more coming</u></b> (<a href="http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20180311/news/654911/ascension-layoffs-total-500-with-more-coming" target="_blank">Crain's Detroit Business</a>)<br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-16422934337716654262018-03-10T20:11:00.001-08:002018-03-10T20:15:25.253-08:00Saturday roundup (03-10-18)<b><u>[In the United States,] Trump’s Warning Shot on Trade Risks Igniting a Wider Conflict</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/business/trump-trade-war-history.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>'Hollowed out' White House: Trump is on a dangerous path toward no advisers:</u></b> There’s never been such a rapid turnover of administration personnel in modern times, and the stampede appears to be accelerating (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/mar/10/hollowed-out-white-house-trump-is-on-a-dangerous-path-toward-no-advisers" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>White House scolds Cabinet officials after embarrassing ethics reports</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/09/politics/cabinet-secretaries-ethical-behavior/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump Talks With Clinton Impeachment Lawyer About Aiding in Mueller Response</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/10/us/politics/trump-mueller-flood.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Experts say Stormy Daniels payout could have violated election law: report</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/377767-experts-say-stormy-daniels-payout-could-have-violated-election-law" target="_blank">The Hill</a>) Once silent, Stormy Daniels speaks loudly with lawsuit targeting Trump (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/once-silent-stormy-daniels-speaks-loudly-with-lawsuit-targeting-trump/2018/03/10/b2668ec6-23b1-11e8-a589-763893265565_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-50805763113516336882018-03-09T20:23:00.002-08:002018-03-09T20:23:19.280-08:00Friday roundup (03-09-18)<b><u>[In the United States,] Trump's bold stroke on North Korea dissolves into confusion:</u></b> The uncertainty surrounding the terms of the potential historic encounter between the U.S. president and Kim Jong Un mirrored earlier bold announcements from the Trump administration. (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/09/white-house-north-korea-meeting-conditions-449448" target="_blank">Politico</a>) Trump Accepts North Korea’s Audacious Invitation—But Then What? (<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/trump-accepts-north-koreas-audacious-invitation-but-then-what" target="_blank">The New Yorker</a>) What Will Trump Give Up for Peace with North Korea? (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/09/opinion/trump-kim-summit-korea.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Massive damage control at WH today-- pres agreed idotically to direct talks with no precondition. Now admin says must denuclearize first, something Nko won't do. Hence no talks.</div>— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) <a href="https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger/status/972199831681814534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>How Trump’s tariffs morphed from 'no exemptions' to carve-outs galore</u></b> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trade-tariffs/how-trumps-tariffs-morphed-from-no-exemptions-to-carve-outs-galore-idUSKCN1GM00X" target="_blank">Reuters</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>“Trump Is Going for a Clean Reset”: Fuming in the West Wing, Trump Prepares to Defenestrate Cuck Allies and Go Full MAGA:</u></b> The president will meet with potential chief-of-staff candidates at Mar-a-Lago next weekend. McMaster is likely next to go. Then Jivanka. (<a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/03/trump-is-going-for-a-clean-reset" target="_blank">VanityFair</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Why I could no longer serve this president</u></b> by former United States Ambassador to Panama John Feeley (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-i-could-no-longer-serve-this-president/2018/03/08/f444f086-225c-11e8-86f6-54bfff693d2b_story.html?utm_term=.9b12bc8e3210" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Anxiety over Stormy Daniels pervasive inside the White House</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/08/politics/stormy-daniels-white-house-anxiety/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>) New evidence the Stormy Daniels payment may have violated election law (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/03/09/new-evidence-the-stormy-daniels-payment-may-have-violated-election-law/" target="_blank">The Washington Post)</a> Stormy Daniels Lawsuit Opens Door to Further Trouble for Trump (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/us/politics/stormy-daniels-trump-legal-case.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels’ attorney: “We’re going to be able to obtain discovery, and documents, and testimony that’s going to show, I am highly confident, that at all times Mr. Trump knew exactly what was going on.” (via CNN) <a href="https://t.co/TIhhYGE78I">https://t.co/TIhhYGE78I</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/972117356632838145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Stormy Daniels’ attorney on <a href="https://twitter.com/NewDay?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NewDay</a>: “You have the White House claiming Donald Trump never knew anything about this. That is going to be shown to be patently false....We have substantial evidence and facts that were not included in the complaint.”</div>— Manu Raju (@mkraju) <a href="https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/972090262867628032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Campaign finance laws and personal financial reporting laws for candidates required this money to be disclosed. Who was in charge of this campaign? Kellyanne - are you there?<br /><br />Cohen used Trump Organization email in Stormy Daniels deal <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNPolitics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNNPolitics</a> <a href="https://t.co/Yd8Lhd7Ihk">https://t.co/Yd8Lhd7Ihk</a></div>— Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/RWPUSA/status/972248126101819393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Florida Governor Signs Gun Limits Into Law, Breaking With the N.R.A.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/09/us/florida-governor-gun-limits.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student Emma González now has more than a million Twitter followers — surpassing both the NRA and its spokeswoman <a href="https://t.co/JqLkUYPeDH">https://t.co/JqLkUYPeDH</a> <a href="https://t.co/2Bc6wqWPDK">pic.twitter.com/2Bc6wqWPDK</a></div>— POLITICO (@politico) <a href="https://twitter.com/politico/status/968610730512715779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Sprint to cut 500 workers from Overland Park campus</u></b> (<a href="https://www.kshb.com/money/business-news/sprint-to-cut-500-workers-from-op-campus" target="_blank">KSHB</a>)<br /><i><br /></i><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-83674876317275965772018-03-08T20:57:00.006-08:002018-03-09T20:25:38.070-08:00Thursday roundup (03-08-18)<b><u>Why Europe should be worried:</u></b> With populists in the driving seat, Italy is heading for trouble (<a href="https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21738364-populists-driving-seat-italy-heading-trouble-why-europe-should-be-worried" target="_blank">The Economist</a>)<br /><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u>[In the United States,] Trump accepts invitation to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/north-korean-leader-kim-jong-un-has-invited-president-trump-to-a-meeting/2018/03/08/021cb070-2322-11e8-badd-7c9f29a55815_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">One of many reasons we need a serious policy process is that we are on verge of applying tariffs to steel imports from South Korea at a time US and SK need to coordinate closely on how to respond to diplomatic possibilities w North Korea. this is why NSC was created 70 years ago.</div>— Richard N. Haass (@RichardHaass) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardHaass/status/971711891331526656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>U.S. Allies Sign Sweeping Trade Deal in Challenge to Trump</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/world/asia/us-trump-tpp-signed.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) 11 countries sign TPP trade pact without the United States (<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/08/news/economy/tpp-trump-tariffs/index.html" target="_blank">CNNMoney</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump Authorizes Tariffs, Defying Allies at Home and Abroad</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/08/us/politics/trump-tariff-announcement.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) Draghi to Trump: If you put tariffs on your allies, who are your enemies? (<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/08/draghi-to-trump-if-you-put-tariffs-on-your-allies-who-are-your-enemies.html" target="_blank">CNBC</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Truly a sad and bad day for the United States, as TPP comes into force without us while US deciding on which countries to apply unwarranted and ill-advised tariffs.&nbsp; Abdication of 3/4 of a century of promoting a trade order that has served US eco and strategic interests.</div>— Richard N. Haass (@RichardHaass) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichardHaass/status/971710419487412224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Today:<br />Eleven countries sign TPP, without U.S.<br />U.S. announces steel and aluminum tariffs.<br />If things are allowed to continue in this direction, and the world trade and economic order starts to crumble, March 8, 2018, will be viewed as an inflection point.</div>— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/971844967160217600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminum will have huge consequences for the global trading order, warns <a href="https://twitter.com/edwardalden?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@edwardalden</a> <a href="https://t.co/GWi1O0RRmY">https://t.co/GWi1O0RRmY</a></div>— CFR (@CFR_org) <a href="https://twitter.com/CFR_org/status/971842880326242305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">President Trump’s decision to impose steep tariffs on steel &amp; aluminum imports will not protect America. They will harm the American economy, hurt American workers &amp; damage relations with America’s allies &amp; partners. <a href="https://t.co/ywBjMX9jKT">https://t.co/ywBjMX9jKT</a></div>— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) <a href="https://twitter.com/SenJohnMcCain/status/971866242222116864?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br />[Quoting a Republican Senator:]<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/BenSasse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BenSasse</a> on new tariffs: "We’re on the verge of a painful and stupid trade war, and that’s bad." <a href="https://t.co/H4bf13lUSq">pic.twitter.com/H4bf13lUSq</a></div>— Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/971864445248065542?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br />[As conservative Max Boot speaks, GOP strategist Rick Wilson nods]<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">"This is the most economically illiterate policy I have ever seen." - Author Max Boot reacts to President Trump's proposed steel and aluminum tariffs, adding "there is not a single economist in the world who believes" trade wars are good and easy to win <a href="https://t.co/C7PU3VaVKd">https://t.co/C7PU3VaVKd</a> <a href="https://t.co/BPQbitzqnW">pic.twitter.com/BPQbitzqnW</a></div>— CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNTonight/status/971606471992659968?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">What Trump is doing is laying the groundwork for blowing up the WTO.&nbsp; These nutso policies he is saying we'll pursue will be rejected there and he will reject their conclusions and we will undo 75 years of progress building an international trading system.&nbsp; Watch.</div>— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) <a href="https://twitter.com/djrothkopf/status/971851607028715520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The cover of The Economist this week isn't subtle. <a href="https://t.co/MSVLCNFy0P">pic.twitter.com/MSVLCNFy0P</a></div>— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianklaas/status/971758534688899077?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Peter Navarro wants Gary Cohn's job, terrifying D.C.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.axios.com/peter-navarro-wants-gary-cohns-job-terrifying-dc-9b8dbd4b-ba44-436a-a615-668405150ed0.html" target="_blank">Axios</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Senior officials tell Axios that they expect the entire National Economic Council staff would quit their posts immediately if Trump appoints Peter Navarro to replace Gary Cohn. <a href="https://t.co/KwQ3VmB0Hr">https://t.co/KwQ3VmB0Hr</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/971933617411641349?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 9, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">In the universe of trade experts, near-experts, dilettantes, and the remotely curious...you won't find Peter Navarro.&nbsp; He's so outside the mainstream I have literally never met anyone with any degree of knowledge about who did not classify him as a kook.&nbsp; An unqualified kook.</div>— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) <a href="https://twitter.com/djrothkopf/status/971739217125691393?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>What We Found in Trump’s Drained Swamp:</u></b> Hundreds of Ex-Lobbyists and D.C. Insiders: For the first time, political appointee and federal financial disclosure information is publicly searchable. (<a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/what-we-found-in-trump-administration-drained-swamp-hundreds-of-ex-lobbyists-and-washington-dc-insiders" target="_blank">ProPublica</a>) What swamp? Lobbyists get ethics waivers to work for Trump (<a href="https://apnews.com/2e23b380a1ec4232abde917d8796d7a6" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">ProPublica has found that at least 187 Trump political appointees have been federal lobbyists, and many are now overseeing the industries they once lobbied on behalf of. <a href="https://t.co/QtEtotbe1U">https://t.co/QtEtotbe1U</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/971752397423878145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">This is sickening.&nbsp; We warned when Trump issued his so-called "ethics executive order," that he was gutting the Obama era rules.&nbsp; This proves it.&nbsp; They have allowed our government to be captured by special interests. <a href="https://t.co/ejY6BNwEGq">https://t.co/ejY6BNwEGq</a></div>— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) <a href="https://twitter.com/NormEisen/status/971746024803971072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Interior spending $139K to fix doors in Sec. Zinke's office</u></b> (<a href="https://www.apnews.com/fe6edd739fff49d3a8e56324f7cc9721" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Refugee skeptic lands top State Department refugee job</u></b> (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/08/andrew-veprek-state-department-refugee-admissions-448210" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>The Health-Care Gap Between Red and Blue America:</u></b> States have a surprising degree of autonomy to block President Trump’s changes to Obamacare—and liberal-leaning states are already making their move. (<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/03/obamacare-trump/555131/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Three potential calamities for Trump — aside from Mueller</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/03/08/three-potential-calamities-for-trump-aside-from-mueller/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">devastating <a href="https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JRubinBlogger</a> analysis of potential criminal liability for Trump, including the new 5 usc app 101 violation uncovered by <a href="https://twitter.com/CREWcrew?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@crewcrew</a>.&nbsp; Remember, they got Capone for false federal financial filings (taxes in his case)--not the underlying crimes. <a href="https://t.co/doRvPi7rAQ">https://t.co/doRvPi7rAQ</a></div>— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) <a href="https://twitter.com/NormEisen/status/971753268832501760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">If you told me 2 years ago <a href="https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JRubinBlogger</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxBoot?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaxBoot</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BillKristol?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BillKristol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Evan_McMullin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Evan_McMullin</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GeorgeWill?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GeorgeWill</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/monacharenEPPC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@monacharenEPPC</a> would be speaking for me,I’d have thought you nuts. These folks are fighting for America/the best of our traditions, chief among them the Rule of Law <a href="https://t.co/mA13ZMWQOb">https://t.co/mA13ZMWQOb</a></div>— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/neal_katyal/status/971779332472524800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Election forecaster moves 26 races in favor of Dems</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/377337-election-forecaster-moves-26-races-in-favor-of-dems" target="_blank">The Hill</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Why Isn’t Trump President for Life Yet?:</u></b> He is following the same playbook as other authoritarian populists around the world. He’s just bad at it—so far. (<a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/03/trump-is-following-the-same-playbook-as-other-authoritarian-populists-hes-just-much-worse-at-it.html" target="_blank">Slate</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>An Operative With Trump Ties Was Once Indicted on an Obscenity Charge:</u></b> George Nader was accused of importing photographs of nude boys “engaged in a variety of sexual acts.” The 1985 charges were dismissed after key evidence was thrown out. (<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/03/an-operative-with-trump-ties-was-once-indicted-on-an-obscenity-charge/555233/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a>) George Nader in spotlight amid Mueller probe: Who is he? (<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/03/04/george-nader-in-spotlight-amid-mueller-probe-who-is.html" target="_blank">FoxNews</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>CNN: Trump upset with press secretary over handling of Stormy Daniels questions</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/377346-cnn-trump-upset-with-sarah-sanders-over-handling-of-stormy-daniels" target="_blank">The Hill</a>) Trump faces trouble if he tries to keep porn star Stormy Daniels silent, legal experts say [USAToday via] (<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/08/trump-faces-trouble-if-he-tries-to-keep-porn-star-stormy-daniels-silent-legal-experts-say.html" target="_blank">CNBC</a>) Why it's 'likely' Stormy Daniels will get to tell her Donald Trump story (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/08/politics/cillizza-toobin-stormy-convo/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Some fuller comments from GOP Rep. Mark Sanford regarding Stormy Daniels <a href="https://t.co/4bOJUhQUk1">pic.twitter.com/4bOJUhQUk1</a></div>— Erica Werner (@ericawerner) <a href="https://twitter.com/ericawerner/status/971498734671552515?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Israeli trauma experts help counselors in Parkland, Florida</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/08/health/parkland-trauma-israel/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Florida governor won't say whether he will sign gun bill</u></b> (<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/gov-rick-scott-sign-legislatures-compromise-guns-53605936" target="_blank">ABCNews</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Father of Parkland victim slams NRA videos:<br /><br />"If this was put out by a terrorist organization, we would be raising the terror threat level in this country. Why are we letting this lobby have anything to do with DC? I don't understand it!" <a href="https://t.co/9eh7udBMsx">https://t.co/9eh7udBMsx</a> <a href="https://t.co/FZeTqvTRmK">pic.twitter.com/FZeTqvTRmK</a></div>— ABC News (@ABC) <a href="https://twitter.com/ABC/status/971514977063497728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">New Monmouth poll:<br /><br />69% of *NRA members* support comprehensive background checks on all gun purchases, including private sales.<br /><br />Keep telling me about "gun culture" and "identity" being the obstacle to improved regulations.<a href="https://t.co/EqyvCRx1qW">https://t.co/EqyvCRx1qW</a></div>— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThePlumLineGS/status/971820274378330112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 8, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-72574608387663609222018-03-08T20:49:00.004-08:002018-03-08T20:49:36.625-08:00Initial jobless claims (Weekly report, 03-08-18)The purpose of this weekly post is to watch how initial jobless claims in the United States are trending (up or down) and to keep track of whether the numbers are holding below 500,000, which would indicate at least the appearance of a fairly healthy economic situation.<br /><br />According to the report released today:<br /><br />"Initial U.S. jobless claims rose by 21,000 to 231,000 in the seven days ended March 3, the government said Thursday. That’s the highest level in six weeks." (<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/jobless-claims-jump-21000-to-231000-a-week-after-setting-nearly-50-year-low-2018-03-08" target="_blank">Marketwatch</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://economicsignsofthetimes.blogspot.com/2018/03/initial-jobless-claims-weekly-report-03.html" target="_blank">SEE LAST WEEK'S POST HERE.</a><br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-85566535036601577132018-03-07T21:25:00.001-08:002018-03-07T21:29:46.119-08:00Wednesday roundup (03-07-18)<b><u>Rising interest rates will be devastating to the US economy for one big reason</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/05/rising-interest-rates-will-be-devastating-to-the-us-economy-for-one-big-reason.html" target="_blank">CNBC</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>White House Prepares to Formalize Tariffs but Floats Exemptions</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/07/us/politics/trump-steel-aluminum-tariffs.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump is systematically backing off consumer protections, to the delight of corporations</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/a-year-of-rolling-back-consumer-protections/2018/03/05/e11713ca-0d05-11e8-95a5-c396801049ef_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump wants to start his trade war tomorrow</u></b> (<a href="https://www.axios.com/when-will-trump-start-his-trade-war-tariffs-b9fdefad-4cd8-4cdf-b013-72c37e27500e.html" target="_blank">Axios</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>'It means disaster': White House aides fear more policy chaos after Cohn departure:</u></b> Some worry that the West Wing could return to the uncontrolled days of the early Trump administration, when the travel ban became an executive order with little review. (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/06/white-house-policy-chaos-gary-cohn-443858" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump Spoke to Witnesses About Matters They Discussed With Special Counsel</u></b> [Mueller] (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/07/us/politics/trump-witnesses-special-counsel-priebus-mcgahn.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Mueller gathers evidence that 2017 Seychelles meeting was effort to establish back channel to Kremlin</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/mueller-gathers-evidence-that-2016-seychelles-meeting-was-effort-to-establish-back-channel-to-kremlin/2018/03/07/b6a5fb8c-224b-11e8-94da-ebf9d112159c_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump Lawyer Obtained Restraining Order [Last Week] to Silence Stormy Daniels</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/07/us/politics/stormy-daniels-trump.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) Porn Star Stormy Daniels Sues Trump Over ‘Hush Agreement’ (<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-07/porn-star-stormy-daniels-sues-trump-over-hush-agreement" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>) Trump’s alleged payoff for porn star's silence warrants a Federal Election Commission investigation (<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/trump-payoff-stormy-daniels-warrants-federal-investigation-article-1.3861884" target="_blank">The New York Daily News</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Stormy Daniels’ attorney says that Daniels had a sexual relationship with Trump and that “there is no question the president knew about the $130,000 payment” from Michael Cohen. <a href="https://t.co/I4GRWfbnzC">https://t.co/I4GRWfbnzC</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/971405152350437376?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Hush agreement &amp; side letter attached to Stormy Daniels' filing essentially shows coordination between <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a>, Cohen &amp; Daniels. That means the $130k payment from Cohen to Daniels to silence her during the campaign violated federal election law. Penalty is 5 year felony. <a href="https://t.co/L4DdhNCpv3">https://t.co/L4DdhNCpv3</a></div>— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/971230848627326976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">David Dennison and Peggy Peterson <a href="https://t.co/2FS0BkX0pc">pic.twitter.com/2FS0BkX0pc</a></div>— Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimOBrien/status/971230386977157120?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>How the Spoils Were Doled Out to Trump Campaign Workers and Allies</u></b> [= drain the swamp?] (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/07/business/trump-federal-jobs.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">JUST POSTED: Trump admin has appointed at least 254 former Trump campaign staffers, in spots across federal government, as well as 187 former lobbyists, and 125 former staffers of right-leaning think tanks. With <a href="https://twitter.com/danielle_ivory?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@danielle_ivory</a>, based on <a href="https://twitter.com/ProPublica?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ProPublica</a> data <a href="https://t.co/izlEJRmHuY">https://t.co/izlEJRmHuY</a></div>— Eric Lipton (@EricLiptonNYT) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricLiptonNYT/status/971432836535390208?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Several White House staffers terminated or reassigned for security clearance issues: Sources</u></b> (<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/white-house-staffers-terminated-reassigned-security-clearance-issues/story?id=53584931" target="_blank">ABCNews</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Florida House Passes Gun Control Bill, Defying N.R.A.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/07/us/florida-shooting-gunman-indicted.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) Florida legislature backs new gun restrictions after Parkland school shooting (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/florida-legislature-backs-new-gun-restrictions-after-parkland-school-shooting/2018/03/07/f97057ea-2229-11e8-badd-7c9f29a55815_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Wounds From Military-Style Rifles? ‘A Ghastly Thing to See’:</u></b> Trauma surgeons tell what it is really like to try to repair such devastating injuries. “Bones are exploded, soft tissue is absolutely destroyed,” one said. (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/04/health/parkland-shooting-victims-ar15.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Japan's Ricoh to cut 4,000 jobs at home, Europe - Nikkei</u></b> (<a href="https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-ricoh-layoffs/japans-ricoh-to-cut-4000-jobs-at-home-europe-nikkei-idUKKCN1GJ33Z" target="_blank">Reuters</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Airbus to shed 3,700 jobs across Europe</u></b> (<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/07/investing/airbus-job-cuts-a380/index.html" target="_blank">CNNMoney</a>)<br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-64197452892841479712018-03-06T21:11:00.006-08:002018-03-06T21:11:56.426-08:00Tuesday roundup (03-06-18)<b><u>South Korea: Kim Jong Un says he could give up nukes</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/north-korea-leader-kim-jong-un-nuclear-weapons-no-missiles-target-south/" target="_blank">CBSNews</a>) Raising Hopes, North Korea Offers to Talk About Its Nuclear Arsenal (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/06/world/asia/korea-weapons-trump-kim.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) Kim Jong Un is suddenly talking about peace. Here’s why. (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/kim-jong-un-is-suddenly-talking-about-peace-heres-why/2018/03/06/06df171e-217f-11e8-86f6-54bfff693d2b_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">“These developments, however, come at a time when the United States has no ambassador in South Korea and no special representative on North Korea, and when the nominee for assistant secretary of state for East Asia has yet to be confirmed.” <a href="https://t.co/6vgKmcuMWq">https://t.co/6vgKmcuMWq</a> <a href="https://t.co/5GXRzJLr7q">pic.twitter.com/5GXRzJLr7q</a></div>— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/971079892522754048?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Warren vows fight as U.S. Senate begins debate on Dodd-Frank rewrite</u></b> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-senate-banks/warren-vows-fight-as-senate-begins-debate-on-dodd-frank-rewrite-idUSKCN1GI27A" target="_blank">Reuters</a>) Democrats fail to mend split over rolling back Dodd-Frank financial regulations (<a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-dodd-frank-democrats-20180306-story.html" target="_blank">The Los Angeles Times</a>) Why Are Democrats Helping Trump Dismantle Dodd-Frank? (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/06/opinion/democrats-trump-dodd-frank.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Gary Cohn is making a desperate effort to stop Trump's trade war before it starts — and if he doesn't, he may leave</u></b> (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/gary-cohn-white-house-push-to-end-trump-tariffs-trade-war-2018-3" target="_blank">The Business Insider</a>) Frustrated White House free traders mount campaign to weaken Trump tariffs: After months of internal fights, economic adviser Gary Cohn and others are hoping outsiders can convince the president to water down his proposed duties on steel and aluminum. (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/05/trade-tariffs-trump-white-house-438278" target="_blank">Politico</a>) Trump Believes Cohn Will Leave If Tariffs Instituted, Sources Say (<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-06/trump-said-to-be-convinced-cohn-will-leave-if-tariffs-instituted" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Jim Mattis and Rex Tillerson privately warned senior trade officials today that Trump’s proposed tariffs could endanger the U.S. national security relationship with allies, five people familiar with the meeting tell WaPo. <a href="https://t.co/OhfMGKk20X">https://t.co/OhfMGKk20X</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/971195093624344576?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Trump demanded Gary Cohn’s cooperation on tariffs today in an Oval Office meeting—asking Cohn directly if he would support the plan.<br /><br />Cohn wouldn't offer his support,&nbsp; two sources tell Bloomberg, and just hours later, the W.H. announced Cohn’s resignation.<a href="https://t.co/VBVaSxZG6G">https://t.co/VBVaSxZG6G</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/971180009288212481?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>[And, behold . . .] Gary Cohn, Trump’s top economic adviser, to resign amid differences on trade policy</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/gary-cohn-trumps-top-economic-adviser-resigns-amid-differences-on-trade-policy/2018/03/06/8ae89514-2191-11e8-badd-7c9f29a55815_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Very sorry to see Gary Cohn leave. He was to the global economy what Mattis is to national security-- a vital and necessary check against Trump's radical and extremely dangerous instincts.</div>— Tom Wright (@thomaswright08) <a href="https://twitter.com/thomaswright08/status/971166992161017857?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>With Cohn gone, Peter Navarro is unleashed at White House</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/06/tariffs-gary-cohn-is-out-peter-navarro-is-unleashed-at-white-house.html" target="_blank">CNBC</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Finally, Trump does something Republicans can’t stomach</u></b> [="proposed tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum"] (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/finally-trump-does-something-republicans-cant-stomach/2018/03/06/dba3eb44-2181-11e8-86f6-54bfff693d2b_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) A Ranting Old Guy With Nukes by Paul Krugman (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/opinion/trump-nuclear-weapons-trade.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Let's not tiptoe around it any longer:<br /><br />The totality of the evidence makes it inescapably clear that Trump is not operating out of any vision of what is good for the country.<br /><br />My new post:<a href="https://t.co/1eYKBLFflC">https://t.co/1eYKBLFflC</a></div>— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) <a href="https://twitter.com/ThePlumLineGS/status/971046229592469504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Hope Hicks to Leave Post as White House Communications Director</u></b> [Feb. 28] (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/28/us/politics/hope-hicks-resign-communications-director.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Trump Firings/Resignations/Departures*<br />Yates<br />Flynn<br />Bharara<br />Walsh<br />Comey<br />Dubke<br />Shaub<br />McFarland<br />Corralo<br />Spicer<br />Short<br />Harvey<br />Priebus<br />Mooch<br />Cohen-Watnick<br />Bannon<br />Gorka<br />Sifakis<br />Icahn<br />Lotter<br />Price<br />Powell<br />Manigault<br />Dearborn<br />Katz<br />McCabe<br />Porter<br />Brand<br />Sorensen<br />Raffel<br />Hicks<br />Cohn<br />*By my count</div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/971157433258094592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">This never gets old. (via <a href="https://twitter.com/maddow?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@maddow</a>) <a href="https://t.co/W31wrX49It">pic.twitter.com/W31wrX49It</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/971212740491493377?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Critics tap decades-old law to stall Trump bid to undo Obama regulations</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/critics-tap-decades-old-law-stall-trump-bid-undo-obama-n852091" target="_blank">NBCNews</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Adviser to Emirates With Ties to Trump Aides Is Cooperating With Special Counsel</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/06/us/politics/george-nader-special-counsel-mueller-cooperating-seychelles.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Hard to overstate how massive this story is. It begins to put the pieces together, finally, of that Seychelles meeting in December 2016. Amazing reporting from <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkMazzettiNYT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MarkMazzettiNYT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/adamgoldmanNYT?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@adamgoldmanNYT</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/ddknyt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ddknyt</a> <a href="https://t.co/p4EBvIDb6e">https://t.co/p4EBvIDb6e</a></div>— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) <a href="https://twitter.com/NatashaBertrand/status/971185458070900736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>L’Affaire Kushner: A series of revelations about the White House princeling have added further credence to the key claim of the Steele dossier.</u></b> (<a href="https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2018/03/a-series-of-revelations-about-jared-kushner-have-added-further-credence-to-a-key-claim-of-the-steele-dossier.html" target="_blank">Slate</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Kellyanne Conway Violated Hatch Act Law Twice, Trump To Decide Disciplinary Action:</u></b> Office Of Special Counsel (<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/kellyanne-conway-violated-hatch-act-law-twice-trump-decide-disciplinary-action-832847" target="_blank">Newsweek</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">After her Ivanka clothing infomercial on FOX (strike 1), these two Hatch Act violations are strikes 2 and 3 for Kellyanne.&nbsp; But in the Trump White House one never strikes out for ethics violations.&nbsp; <a href="https://t.co/PofBChehZD">https://t.co/PofBChehZD</a></div>— Richard W. Painter (@RWPUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/RWPUSA/status/971070863314444288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Washington state has passed laws protecting net neutrality:</u></b> It’s the first state law to be enforceable against ISPs (<a href="https://www.theverge.com/2018/3/6/17084246/washington-state-laws-protecting-net-neutrality-fcc-internet" target="_blank">TheVerge</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Striking teachers go out of their way to make sure students have food</u></b> (<a href="https://www.today.com/parents/striking-teachers-west-virginia-make-sure-kids-still-eat-t124112" target="_blank">Today on NBC</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Dick’s Sporting Goods took a stand on gun sales — and made a big statement</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/on-leadership/wp/2018/03/06/dicks-sporting-goods-took-a-stand-on-gun-sales-and-made-a-big-statement/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>State Farm cutting nearly 900 analyst jobs in B-N, some will move to hubs</u></b> (<a href="http://www.pantagraph.com/business/local/state-farm-to-cut-nearly-it-jobs-in-b-n/article_825ad613-65ed-5150-b5b3-460cfabbaf08.html" target="_blank">The Pantagraph of Bloomington, Illinois</a>)<br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-82183576278614601692018-03-05T20:10:00.003-08:002018-03-05T20:18:41.923-08:00Monday roundup (03-05-18)<i>[Between Feb. 28 and March 4 your blogger lost Internet service.]</i><br /><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u>Italy now poses an ‘existential threat to the eurozone’ — analysts react to election</u></b> (<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/italy-election-brings-back-existential-threat-to-eurozone-analyst-react-to-sundays-vote-2018-03-05" target="_blank">Marketwatch</a>) EU has a ‘MASSIVE ISSUE’ - Italian election results fuel uprising against eurozone rules: THE European Union has a “massive issue” after the surge in support for highly Eurosceptic parties at the Italian election, experts claim, with Brussels likely to face an uprising and demands to tear up its rulebook. (<a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/927320/Italian-election-results-Northern-League-Five-Star-Movement-euro" target="_blank">The Express</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Demagogues Win as Europe’s Populist Tide Sweeps Italy</u></b> [Editorial] (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/opinion/italy-election-populist.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) 4 Takeaways From a ‘Throw the Bums Out’ Italian Election (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/world/europe/italy-election.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) Why the Center Collapsed in Italy: Recession, Austerity, and Immigration (<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/why-the-center-collapsed-in-italy-recession-austerity-and-immigration" target="_blank">The New Yorker</a>) How Russian networks worked to boost the far right in Italy: An analysis of social networks reveals how Kremlin-backed media outlets boosted xenophobic discourse (<a href="https://elpais.com/elpais/2018/03/01/inenglish/1519922107_909331.amp.html" target="_blank">El Pais of Spain</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>10 years after financial crisis, [the United States] Senate prepares to roll back banking rules</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/10-years-after-financial-crisis-senate-prepares-to-roll-back-banking-rules/2018/03/04/e6115438-1e37-11e8-9de1-147dd2df3829_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Ryan, other conservatives fear trade war from Trump's tariffs</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/03/05/politics/paul-ryan-tariffs-conservative-reactions/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>) The GOP is going to war with Trump over … tariffs: They’re considering legislation to block him from starting a trade war. (<a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/3/5/17081710/trump-republicans-steel-tariffs-trade-war" target="_blank">Vox</a>) Trump trade adviser says no exceptions for allies on new aluminum and steel tariffs (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2018/03/04/trump-trade-adviser-says-no-exceptions-for-allies-on-new-aluminum-and-steel-tariffs/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) Imposing tariffs is stupid policy (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/imposing-tariffs-is-stupid-policy/2018/03/05/b5512ea0-2093-11e8-86f6-54bfff693d2b_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) The Republican Party’s travesty on trade (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/03/05/the-republican-partys-travesty-on-trade/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Declaring Trump a “master negotiator”is ludicrous. He has shown beyond all and any doubt through his immigration and gun negotiation stunts that he is a supernova of ignorance, incompetence and ineptitude.&nbsp; His tariffs and looming trade war are just the latest WH stupidity.</div>— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveSchmidtSES/status/970721201395064832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">This will vastly accelerate certain aspects of Russian economic warfare and drive a wedge between America and Europe (aka the transatlantic rift the Kremlin has wanted since approx 1950) <a href="https://t.co/UTavaUhNtz">https://t.co/UTavaUhNtz</a></div>— Molly McKew (@MollyMcKew) <a href="https://twitter.com/MollyMcKew/status/970498687569940480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The world trading system is in the hands of people who don’t know how it works, when it was built, how it was built, who built it, why they built it, and what the alternatives to that system were and are.</div>— David Frum (@davidfrum) <a href="https://twitter.com/davidfrum/status/970338276933537792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">NEWS: <a href="https://twitter.com/SpeakerRyan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SpeakerRyan</a> is trying to talk Trump down from tariffs: “We are extremely worried abt the consequences of a trade war &amp; r urging the WH to not advance with this plan. The new tax reform law has boosted the economy &amp; we certainly don't want to jeopardize those gains.”</div>— Rachael Bade (@rachaelmbade) <a href="https://twitter.com/rachaelmbade/status/970696071776296961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Donald Trump's Trade War Will Cause 'Deep' Global Recession, Says WTO Director</u></b> (<a href="http://www.newsweek.com/trade-war-donald-trump-recession-tariffs-steel-831499" target="_blank">Newsweek</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump Hates the Trade Deficit. Most Economists Don’t.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/us/politics/trade-deficit-tariffs-economists-trump.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Americans borrow record amounts for auto loans even as interest rates rise</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/03/01/americans-borrow-record-amounts-for-autos-even-as-interest-rates-rise.html" target="_blank">CNBC</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Nine Notorious Dictators, Nine Shout-Outs From Donald Trump:</u></b> The president of the United States continues to heap praise on the world's most reviled rulers. (<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/03/trump-xi-jinping-dictators/554810/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">As a new cadet at West Point in 1971, I stood in formation before being sworn in &amp; was told our oath was unlike any military in the world. <br /><br />We swore to defend a piece of paper. Ideas. Values. Dignity &amp; respect for all mankind. <br /><br />I’ve thought about that every day since.</div>— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) <a href="https://twitter.com/MarkHertling/status/970664312044998656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>The Trump administration wants to dismantle Ronald Reagan’s ‘infrastructure of democracy’</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/the-trump-administration-wants-to-dismantle-ronald-reagans-infrastructure-of-democracy/2018/03/04/8b94d7f6-1e54-11e8-ae5a-16e60e4605f3_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">This will also make your blood boil.&nbsp; The State Department is giving up on our historic support for democracy promotion that none other than Ronald Reagan pioneered.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://t.co/uQOpWnolme">https://t.co/uQOpWnolme</a></div>— Nicholas Burns (@RNicholasBurns) <a href="https://twitter.com/RNicholasBurns/status/970473590276657153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Mueller is casting a wide net. We now know the target is Trump.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/03/05/mueller-is-casting-a-wide-net-we-now-know-the-target-is-trump/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>) Robert Mueller is closing in on President Trump. Here’s proof: A witness in the probe into alleged Trump-Russia collusion was sent a subpoena requesting a wide range of documents (<a href="https://www.salon.com/2018/03/05/robert-mueller-is-closing-in-on-president-trump-heres-proof/" target="_blank">Salon</a>) It’s not just Russia — Mueller is digging into Trump associates’ potentially corrupt foreign ties: He’s looking at Trump associates’ dealings with investors or governments in Qatar, the UAE, Turkey, and China. (<a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/3/5/17080302/trump-russia-news-kushner-mueller" target="_blank">Vox</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Sam Nunberg's epic, jaw-dropping, media circus</u></b> (<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2018/03/05/media/nunberg-media-moment/index.html" target="_blank">CNNMoney</a>) ‘What The F*ck?’ Former Trump Aide Sam Nunberg’s Mueller Meltdown Leaves Friends Petrified: Those close to Nunberg said they fear he was drunk while going on a cable news blitz. (<a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/what-the-fck-former-trump-aide-sam-nunbergs-mueller-meltdown-leaves-friends-petrified/" target="_blank">The Daily Beast</a>) Sam Nunberg’s Media Meltdown—and What He Might Want to Remember About Special Prosecutors’ Powers (<a href="https://lawfareblog.com/sam-nunbergs-media-meltdown" target="_blank">Lawfare blog</a>) Former Trump Campaign Aide Now Says He'll Likely Cooperate With the Russia Probe (<a href="http://time.com/5187176/sam-nunberg-trump-robert-mueller/" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Christopher Steele, the Man Behind the Trump Dossier:</u></b> How the ex-spy tried to warn the world about Trump’s ties to Russia. (<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/03/12/christopher-steele-the-man-behind-the-trump-dossier" target="_blank">The New Yorker</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/JaneMayerNYer?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JaneMayerNYer</a>’s reporting is indeed amazing, <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilipRucker?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@PhilipRucker</a> — but not in the sense that freaks like <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> loosely toss that term around. “Amazing” as in deeply researched, resourcefully excavated, carefully sourced, deadly on-target, and lucidly explained. <a href="https://t.co/pgqlphlTNw">https://t.co/pgqlphlTNw</a></div>— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/tribelaw/status/970691023201554434?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Read this Christopher Steele piece. Now consider this:<br />-Tillerson has spent $0 of the $120 million Congress gave him to counter election meddling<br />-Trump refuses to implement bipartisan congressional sanctions on Russia<br />-Trump has not directed FBI / NSA to counter Russian meddling <a href="https://t.co/uj30W31IPI">https://t.co/uj30W31IPI</a></div>— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/970671564176818177?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 5, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Escort Says Audio Recordings Show Russian Meddling in U.S. Election</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/world/asia/nastya-rybka-trump-putin.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump Thought the Rules Didn’t Apply—and Now He’s Paying the Price:</u></b> The Trump administration decided early on that many guidelines were either antiquated or punitive, and is belatedly discovering that they were there for its own protection. (<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/the-rules-are-there-to-protect-you-not-hurt-you/554486/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>More Than 30 Trump Aides Lose Top-Secret Clearance, Sources Say</u></b> [Feb. 28] (<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-28/more-than-30-white-house-aides-said-to-lose-top-secret-clearance" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Roles reduced, Kushner and Ivanka Trump's fate uncertain</u></b> (<a href="https://apnews.com/50e878580b634f5f9f65538bda26f1a2" target="_blank">The Associated Press</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Gratuitous cruelty by Homeland Security: Separating a 7-year-old from her mother</u></b> [Editorial] (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/gratuitous-cruelty-by-homeland-security-separating-a-7-year-old-from-her-mother/2018/03/04/98fae4f0-1bff-11e8-ae5a-16e60e4605f3_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Chaos at Veterans Affairs has Shulkin on the edge</u></b> (<a href="https://www.axios.com/shulkin-on-the-edge-1520204838-35ebc2db-e57b-4908-8342-1559e9c22086.html" target="_blank">Axios</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Housing official says she was demoted after raising concerns over Ben Carson's office redecorating costs</u></b> [Feb. 28] (<a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-ben-carson-20180228-story.html" target="_blank">The Los Angeles Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>CalPERS on the Brink of Insolvency</u></b> (<a href="https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/world-news/pension-crisis/calpers-on-the-brink-of-insolvency/" target="_blank">Armstrong Economics blog</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Ford plans [2,000] temporary layoffs for Ranger, Bronco retool</u></b> [March 2] (<a href="https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/ford/2018/03/02/michigan-assembly-layoff-retool/111027198/" target="_blank">The Detroit News</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Red River Army Depot cutting up to 600 jobs</u></b> [March 1] (<a href="http://www.arklatexhomepage.com/news/local-news/red-river-army-depot-cutting-up-to-600-jobs/1001414990" target="_blank">Nexstar Broadcasting</a>)<br /><i><br /></i><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-28795679082816159822018-03-05T19:57:00.002-08:002018-03-05T19:57:33.595-08:00Initial jobless claims (Weekly report, 03-01-18)The purpose of this weekly post is to watch how initial jobless claims in the United States are trending (up or down) and to keep track of whether the numbers are holding below 500,000, which would indicate at least the appearance of a fairly healthy economic situation.<br /><br />According to the report released March 1:<br /><br />"Initial U.S. jobless claims fell by 10,000 to 210,000 in the seven days ended Feb. 24, the government said Thursday," which is "the lowest level since 1969". (<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-jobless-claims-fall-to-lowest-level-since-1969-2018-03-01" target="_blank">Marketwatch</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://economicsignsofthetimes.blogspot.com/2018/02/initial-jobless-claims-weekly-report-02_22.html" target="_blank">SEE LAST WEEK'S POST HERE.</a><br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-8855182718234518612018-02-27T18:36:00.002-08:002018-02-27T18:36:43.371-08:00Tuesday roundup (02-27-18)<b><u>[United States] State Department point man on North Korea, Joseph Yun, to retire Friday</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/state-department-point-man-on-north-korea-joe-yun-to-retire-friday/2018/02/26/9a201136-1b62-11e8-8a2c-1a6665f59e95_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">13 months into the Trump administration, there's still no U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. Now, the State Department’s point man on North Korea, Joseph Yun, will leave his post this week. <a href="https://t.co/S6H22M8r20">https://t.co/S6H22M8r20</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/968551387545075712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Joe Yun is a jewel of American diplomacy. He's everything a diplomat should be: Smart, thoughtful, prepared, open-minded, good-humored and, I might add, a boon companion. He's pretty much irreplaceable. <a href="https://t.co/1shluNnsX7">https://t.co/1shluNnsX7</a></div>— Richard Stengel (@stengel) <a href="https://twitter.com/stengel/status/968472608139350016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">This is exceptionally bad news. Joe Yun is the only senior official left at State who has experience dealing with the complexities of North Korea policy. Other excellent officers don’t have the rank to weigh in on 7th floor.<br />Timing also stinks to high heaven.</div>— Frank Jannuzi (@FrankJannuzi) <a href="https://twitter.com/FrankJannuzi/status/968321635672608768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Well-Heeled Investors Reap the Republican Tax Cut Bonanza [= Workers' Incomes Are Not Boosted]</u></b> [Editorial] (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/25/opinion/investors-republican-tax-cut.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Kushner loses access to top-secret intelligence:</u></b> A memo sent Friday downgraded the presidential son-in-law and adviser and other White House aides who had been working on interim clearances. (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/27/jared-kushner-security-clearance-downgrade-427178" target="_blank">Politico</a>) Trump son-in-law, adviser Kushner loses access to top intelligence briefing: sources (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-kushner/trump-son-in-law-kushner-loses-access-to-coveted-intelligence-briefing-sources-idUSKCN1GB2VE" target="_blank">Reuters</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Jared Kushner is accepting the decision about his security clearance and “will not ask for special permission” from President Trump, one person familiar with situation tells <a href="https://twitter.com/jeffzeleny?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jeffzeleny</a></div>— Manu Raju (@mkraju) <a href="https://twitter.com/mkraju/status/968592863591370752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Kushner’s overseas contacts raise concerns as foreign officials seek leverage</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/kushners-overseas-contacts-raise-concerns-as-foreign-officials-seek-leverage/2018/02/27/16bbc052-18c3-11e8-942d-16a950029788_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Officials in at least 4 countries (UAE, China, Israel, Mexico) have privately discussed ways they can manipulate Jared Kushner by taking advantage of his complex biz arrangements, financial difficulties and lack of foreign policy experience, WaPo reports. <a href="https://t.co/mwt9wsNlS2">https://t.co/mwt9wsNlS2</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/968609191400222720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">"Officials in the White House were concerned that Kushner was 'naive and being tricked' in conversations with foreign officials, some of whom said they wanted to deal only with Kushner directly and not more experienced personnel, said one former White House official." <a href="https://t.co/Mxwzes3tCS">https://t.co/Mxwzes3tCS</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/968611721169555456?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>“Mueller Is Going to Get What He Wants”:</u></b> Inside the Trump-Mueller Cat-and-Mouse Game While Trump’s lawyers are working to limit Trump’s legal risk, experts say it may be impossible for the president to avoid a perjury trap. “That is a problem for the Trump lawyers, not the special counsel,” says one former White House counsel. “One way or the other, the lawyers have to figure out how to prepare the president to give testimony.” (<a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2018/02/donald-trump-robert-mueller-interview" target="_blank">VanityFair</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Who's been charged by Mueller in the Russia probe so far?</u></b> (<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/02/27/whos-been-charged-by-mueller-in-russia-probe-so-far.html" target="_blank">FoxNews</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Mueller drops charges against [Manafort deputy] Rick Gates, court OKs Boston spring break trip</u></b> (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/27/rick-gates-charges-dropped-robert-mueller-russia-probe-427177" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u>The weight of the known Mueller indictments now falls solely on Manafort and the Russians</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/02/27/the-weight-of-the-known-mueller-indictments-now-falls-solely-on-manafort-and-the-russians/" target="_blank">The Wasington Post</a>) The walls are closing in on Paul Manafort — here are his options (<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/walls-closing-paul-manafort-options-article-1.3843068" target="_blank">The New York Daily News</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://t.co/4Ux9OMoF73">pic.twitter.com/4Ux9OMoF73</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/968470817620348930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">This must be the first witch hunt in history that’s resulted in 5 guilty pleas.<br /><br />1. Papadopoulos<br />2. Flynn<br />3. Pinedo<br />4. Van der Zwaan<br />5. Gates</div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/968473428931104768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Melania Trump Parts Ways With Adviser Amid Backlash Over Inaugural Contract</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/26/us/politics/melania-trump-inauguration-adviser.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><b><u><br /></u></b><b><u>Ben Carson’s HUD, Planning Cuts, Spends $31,000 on Dining Set for His Office</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/27/us/ben-carson-hud-furniture.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump privately talks up executing all big drug dealers</u></b> (<a href="https://www.axios.com/exclusive-trump-privately-talks-up-executing-all-big-drug-dealers-1519595170-402cc386-8729-4684-a7ef-a5bf31876afa.html" target="_blank">Axios</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">I’ve learned in past two days that Trump has talked up the Chinese, Filipino and Singaporean systems of killing drug dealers to even more people than I originally thought. List includes members of Congress (including some in leadership) &amp; foreign leaders.</div>— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) <a href="https://twitter.com/jonathanvswan/status/968486109687803904?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>The EPA will shutter center that distributes grants to test effects of chemicals on children</u></b> (<a href="http://theweek.com/speedreads/757716/epa-shutter-center-that-distributes-grants-test-effects-chemicals-children" target="_blank">The Week</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Dems introduce legislation to stop FCC net neutrality repeal</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/policy/technology/375829-democrats-officially-introduce-legislation-to-stop-fcc-net-neutrality" target="_blank">The Hill</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>What Are States Doing About Gun Violence After the Florida Shooting?</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/26/us/gun-control-laws.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en"><a href="https://twitter.com/Lawrence?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Lawrence</a> you hit it out of the park again tonight. I’ve had bullets fly past me. I’ve seen real tough men piss themselves with the fear near death brings. I can guarantee you Trump does not have the character and strength to face even a water rifle let alone a deadly situation.</div>— Keith Yetman (@yetman_keith) <a href="https://twitter.com/yetman_keith/status/968324910035689474?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">After years of slandering the victims of Sandy Hook and other tragedies, Alex Jones begging a Parkland survivor to help him get back on good terms with YouTube. <a href="https://t.co/p7QAe2859E">pic.twitter.com/p7QAe2859E</a></div>— Chris Wilson (@realchriswilson) <a href="https://twitter.com/realchriswilson/status/968519567030005760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">I’m surprised the NRA was affiliated with car rental companies at all, considering Hertz and Avis enforce tyrannical rules like "age restrictions" and "having a license."</div>— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) <a href="https://twitter.com/StephenAtHome/status/968321458173825024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Levi’s Stadium vendor Centerplate slashes 759 Santa Clara jobs</u></b> (<a href="https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/02/26/levis-stadium-vendor-centerplate-slashes-759-santa-clara-jobs/" target="_blank">The Mercury News of San Jose, California</a>)<br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-13583156162839847572018-02-26T18:39:00.005-08:002018-02-26T18:39:35.025-08:00Monday roundup (02-26-18)<b><u>With Xi’s Power Grab, China Joins New Era of Strongmen</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/26/world/asia/china-xi-jinping-authoritarianism.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) Xi Jinping’s power grab could lead to a ‘political catastrophe’ in China (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/02/26/xi-jinpings-power-grab-could-lead-to-a-political-catastrophe-in-china/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) China's Xinjiang surveillance is the dystopian future nobody wants: Monitoring tech pioneered in the region is spreading across China and the world. (<a href="https://www.engadget.com/2018/02/22/china-xinjiang-surveillance-tech-spread/" target="_blank">Engadget</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>An attack [by the United States] on North Korea would be massive — and massively stupid</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/an-attack-on-north-korea-would-be-massive--and-massively-stupid/2018/02/25/4830251e-18dd-11e8-8b08-027a6ccb38eb_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) The White House’s ‘bloody nose’ strategy on North Korea sounds Trumpian. So why do his aides hate it? (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/the-white-houses-bloody-nose-strategy-on-north-korea-sounds-trumpian-so-why-do-his-aides-hate-it/2018/02/26/9ec20744-18b5-11e8-b681-2d4d462a1921_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>[In the United States,] Supreme Court snubs Trump, keeps DACA immigration program in place for now</u></b> (<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/26/supreme-court-snubs-trump-keeps-daca-immigration-program-place-now/371730002/" target="_blank">USAToday</a>) Supreme Court rejects Trump request to weigh in quickly on Dreamers: The justices' decision reduces the urgency of the drive in Congress to craft a legislative fix for DACA. (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/26/supreme-court-rejects-trump-request-to-weigh-in-quickly-on-dreamers-424305" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Trump and the anti-immigrant far right took a victory lap when the president’s veto threat helped quash the only viable bill to provide relief for the dreamers. Now, however, they face a political nightmare. <a href="https://t.co/j0DOb8a2iB">https://t.co/j0DOb8a2iB</a></div>— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) <a href="https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger/status/968165262691328000?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Anti-secrecy lawsuits soaring against Pruitt's EPA:</u></b> Freedom of Information Act litigation is pouring in as the agency refuses to divulge details about the administrator's activities and travels. (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/26/pruitt-epa-secrecy-lawsuits-environment-355842" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump’s personal pilot to head the FAA? It’s the latest sign norms are breaking down.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/02/26/trumps-personal-pilot-to-head-the-faa-its-the-latest-sign-norms-are-breaking-down/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Kelly and Kushner stuck at an impasse after Trump's punt on clearance:</u></b> The chief of staff is unlikely to grant the president's son-in-law a permanent clearance, but isn't likely to quit over the issue, either. (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/26/kelly-kushner-trump-security-clearance-424295" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">“Kushner should have been gone — and in Obama’s or any other White House, would have been gone — as soon as the red flags of his dozens of omissions on his security clearance and financial disclosure forms began to accumulate." <a href="https://t.co/OREBf7UY4r">https://t.co/OREBf7UY4r</a></div>— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) <a href="https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger/status/967815796096421889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Trump vs. Mueller is a battle for America’s soul</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/trump-vs-mueller-is-a-battle-for-americas-soul/2018/02/26/0979904c-1b19-11e8-9de1-147dd2df3829_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump: I would have run into school during shooting even without a gun</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/375597-trump-i-would-have-run-into-school-during-shooting-even-without-a-gun" target="_blank">The Hill</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Here's the video. Trump speaking on the Parkland shooting: “I really believe I’d run in there, even if I didn't have a weapon. And I think most of the people in this room would've done that, too.” (via CBS) <a href="https://t.co/qZaFnOlBAJ">pic.twitter.com/qZaFnOlBAJ</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/968175349187121153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">BREAKING: DC area man with five draft deferments who mocked tortured war hero John McCain for being captured says he believes he would confront an active shooter—with an AR-15 assault weapon—unarmed. <a href="https://t.co/UDQvhLlJGC">https://t.co/UDQvhLlJGC</a></div>— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianklaas/status/968157109073432577?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Perhaps the long-awaited sixth Die Hard movie will be released this Christmas—starring, of course, Donald Trump.</div>— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/968239314286063616?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Was that actually Trump in front of the tank in Tiananmen Square? <a href="https://t.co/XTOo0yGUYZ">https://t.co/XTOo0yGUYZ</a> <a href="https://t.co/YiWQfNao3z">pic.twitter.com/YiWQfNao3z</a></div>— Shadow Cabinet (@ShadowingTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/ShadowingTrump/status/968241328768389121?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">President Mitty speaks.&nbsp; <a href="https://t.co/etcR9OdWFe">https://t.co/etcR9OdWFe</a></div>— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/968165153618497537?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Trump just told a meeting of governors that he would have taken out the Parkland shooter.&nbsp; “I really believe I’d run in there even if I didn’t have a weapon.” <a href="https://t.co/2pbIFt4NB6">pic.twitter.com/2pbIFt4NB6</a></div>— Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimOBrien/status/968167015373529089?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Reminder: Trump once turned away in disgust while a man was bleeding to death in front of him. From <a href="https://twitter.com/MarlowNYC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@marlownyc</a>: <a href="https://t.co/OIaMFl8BHu">https://t.co/OIaMFl8BHu</a></div>— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) <a href="https://twitter.com/thedailybeast/status/968183981563895808?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Sarah Huckabee Sanders just clarified that when President Trump said earlier that he'd have run into the school with the active shooter, he didn't really mean that he'd run into a school with an active shooter but rather that he'd "be a leader"</div>— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) <a href="https://twitter.com/IsaacDovere/status/968222135327117312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-79386479250486032962018-02-25T20:53:00.000-08:002018-02-25T20:53:06.978-08:00Sunday roundup (02-25-18)<b><u>Italian elections latest: Economy 'is WEAK by eurozone standards' as tensions soar:</u></b> ITALIANS go to the polls next week in national elections that could have enormous repercussions for the stability of the European Union and the eurozone as experts warn the nation's finances are yet to fully recover from a series of economic disasters. (<a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/923790/italian-election-2018-economic-recovery-european-union-eurozone-lega-nord-matteo-salvini" target="_blank">The Express</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>China Moves to Let Xi Stay in Power by Abolishing Term Limit</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/25/world/asia/china-xi-jinping.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) China Faces Rule by Xi for Decades With Repeal of Term Limits (<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-25/china-s-xi-follows-putin-in-laying-ground-to-rule-for-decades" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>[In the United States,] Trump’s Takeover of Conservatism Is Complete and Total:</u></b> At this year’s CPAC, the room for criticizing the president was vanishingly small. (<a href="https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/02/25/donald-trump-conservatism-cpac-2018-217081" target="_blank">Politico</a>) If this is what conservatism has become, count me out (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/if-this-is-what-conservatism-has-become-count-me-out/2018/02/25/853685c6-19bd-11e8-92c9-376b4fe57ff7_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">.<a href="https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JRUBINBLOGGER</a>: <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CPAC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CPAC</a> has become the Republican Party and vice versa. The party of rationality and the party of facts, the party of decency and the party of human values, of family values is no more. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AMJoy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AMJoy</a> <a href="https://t.co/7nCbCHI66h">pic.twitter.com/7nCbCHI66h</a></div>— AM Joy w/Joy Reid (@amjoyshow) <a href="https://twitter.com/amjoyshow/status/967779272059490305?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">When I wished Mona good luck before her CPAC appearance, she joked that she was re-reading the Book of Daniel. Daniel 5:27 offers a fair judgment of some conservatives: "Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting." Mona was not found wanting.<a href="https://t.co/hsGhidMYGU">https://t.co/hsGhidMYGU</a></div>— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/967821861093625863?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">What my friend Mona Charen&nbsp; did today at CPAC was an extraordinary act of courage and principle and highlighted how little of that we see today... <a href="https://t.co/o93tnGs6vb">https://t.co/o93tnGs6vb</a></div>— Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) <a href="https://twitter.com/SykesCharlie/status/967518374333906945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>CNN Poll: Trump approval slides, matches lowest point of presidency</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/25/politics/cnn-poll-trump-approval-matches-low/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Very few people changing their mind either way about Trump.<br />Trump's average approval/disapproval: June 25, 2017: 39.6% approve, 55.2% disapprove. Eight months later, Feb. 25, 2018: 39.1% approve, 55.6% disapprove. And the range over that period is narrow.<a href="https://t.co/EkYqFt1Ovy">https://t.co/EkYqFt1Ovy</a></div>— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) <a href="https://twitter.com/BillKristol/status/967817598758014977?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Democrats blast holes in Nunes memo with volley of facts, logic</u></b> (<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/opinion/democrats-blast-holes-nunes-memo-volley-facts-logic-article-1.3840471" target="_blank">The New York Daily News</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Literally everything in the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DemMemo?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DemMemo</a> refutes Nunes’. It’s comprehensive. Nunes has serious issues with the truth. Suspicious lying/pathological lying is standard grounds for losing ones security clearance. <a href="https://t.co/CSXiCYuc79">https://t.co/CSXiCYuc79</a></div>— Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) <a href="https://twitter.com/MalcolmNance/status/967559825315061760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Have now read and analyzed Nunes &amp; Schiff memos. Can come to only 1 conclusion: Nunes, GOP leaders, &amp; Trump intentionally lied 2hurt FBI &amp; USA and benefit Russia. That is unlike anything we have seen—far worse than McCarthy or Nixon, who were not aiding our foreign adversaries</div>— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) <a href="https://twitter.com/NormEisen/status/967761370711314437?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Mueller Is Gaining Steam. Should Trump Worry?</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/24/us/politics/trump-russia-inquiry-mueller.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Don’t hire relatives: Kushner should have been gone long ago</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/02/25/dont-hire-relatives-kushner-should-have-been-gone-long-ago/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Over two months ago, more than a dozen Members of Congress asked Jared Kushner a simple yes/no question: Did he talk to any foreign nationals, including from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SaudiArabia?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SaudiArabia</a> or UAE, about the troubled loan for 666 Fifth Ave? He still has not responded.<br /><br />What is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kushner?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kushner</a> hiding? <a href="https://t.co/cB7SFGt41v">https://t.co/cB7SFGt41v</a></div>— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) <a href="https://twitter.com/tedlieu/status/967933727006343169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 26, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Trump owes Deutsche Bank (DB) $364 M<br /><br />Kushner owes them $285M<br />DB has a cooperating agreement with Vnesheconombank (VEB), who is under US sanctions<br />If DB transferred Kushner and Trump's loan to VEB, the POTUS has a personal incentive to lift US sanctions <a href="https://t.co/ilrCh8OG7u">https://t.co/ilrCh8OG7u</a> …</div>— Tomthunkit™ (@TomthunkitsMind) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomthunkitsMind/status/967746675241635840?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">My hunch: These massive debts owed to DB will link Kushner and ultimately Trump to Russia’s information warfare against, and its hacking into, our democracy — and to Trump’s dereliction of duty in not lifting a finger to defend the United States from ongoing attack: <a href="https://t.co/VKva7tuzDg">https://t.co/VKva7tuzDg</a></div>— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/tribelaw/status/967752388122763264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Arrogance and dissembling at the VA</u></b> [Editorial] (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/arrogance-and-dissembling-at-the-va/2018/02/17/09d0fda2-1342-11e8-8ea1-c1d91fcec3fe_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump’s EPA replaced scientists with industry advisors under the guise of ‘conflicts of interest’</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/opinion/energy-environment/375308-trumps-epa-replaced-scientists-with-industry-advisors-under-the" target="_blank">The Hill</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump’s quiet campaign to bring back preexisting conditions:</u></b> The administration is waging a quiet regulatory war against Obamacare. (<a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/2/22/17033588/trump-obamacare-preexisting-conditions" target="_blank">Vox</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Glenn Beck: America needs a 'reconciliation'</u></b> (<a href="http://money.cnn.com/2018/02/25/media/glenn-beck-cnn-reliable-sources/index.html" target="_blank">CNNMoney</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>The NRA's worst nightmare is here</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/25/opinions/nra-parkland-shooting-opinion-obeidallah/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>CNN Poll: Seven in 10 favor tighter gun laws in wake of Parkland shooting</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/25/politics/cnn-poll-gun-control-support-climbs/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Remarkable new polling. <br /><br />In 2014, <a href="https://twitter.com/CNN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CNN</a> found&nbsp; that 36% of Americans strongly opposed stricter gun control laws and 29% strongly favored them.&nbsp; <br /><br />Today, only 14% strongly oppose and 52% strongly favor stricter gun control. <a href="https://t.co/ggaR0u5ib0">https://t.co/ggaR0u5ib0</a></div>— Kurt Andersen (@KBAndersen) <a href="https://twitter.com/KBAndersen/status/967806035539902464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Support for:<br />• 87% Laws to prevent convicted felons, those with mental health problems from owning guns<br />• 71% Preventing people under age 21 from buying guns<br />• 57% Ban on the manufacture, sale and possession of rifles capable of semi-automatic fire, such as the AR-15 <a href="https://t.co/kT96HFMh5A">https://t.co/kT96HFMh5A</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/967880801571491846?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">If owning a gun was an effective means of self-defense, your insurance rates would go down when you bought one. But they go up, because actuaries have proven that you’re far, far more likely to shoot yourself or a family member than someone attacking you.</div>— Faith Consultant (@jndevereux) <a href="https://twitter.com/jndevereux/status/967523062123057158?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">I'm a Second Amendment fundamentalist: I believe everyone who is part of a well regulated militia has a constitutional right to own and bear a flintlock rifle, musket, or pistol.</div>— Steven Metz (@steven_metz) <a href="https://twitter.com/steven_metz/status/967378043034656768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>February 2018: Unofficial Problem Bank list unchanged at 101 Institutions</u></b> (<a href="http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2018/02/february-2018-unofficial-problem-bank.html" target="_blank">Calculated Risk blog</a>)<br /><i><br /></i><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-47877933391568885052018-02-24T20:21:00.003-08:002018-02-24T20:21:42.190-08:00Saturday roundup (02-24-18)<b><u>1 in 5 Americans have more credit-card debt than savings: Consumers are putting saving on the back burner</u></b> (<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/1-in-5-americans-have-more-credit-card-debt-than-savings-2018-02-22" target="_blank">Marketwatch</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>U.S. prepares high-seas crackdown on North Korea sanctions evaders - sources</u></b> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-north-korea-missiles-ships-exclusive/exclusive-us-prepares-high-seas-crackdown-on-north-korea-sanctions-evaders-sources-idUSKCN1G72UY" target="_blank">Reuters</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Ivanka Trump practices diplomacy on South Korea Olympics trip</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/23/politics/ivanka-trump-briefs-south-korea-sanctions/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin announced that Ivanka Trump briefed South Korean President Moon about the new NK sanctions.<br /><br />Asked if she had the appropriate security clearance, Mnuchin said, “She has the appropriate access to brief the president.”</div>— Zachary Cohen (@ZcohenCNN) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZcohenCNN/status/967083091524235264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The president’s chief adviser, a general, has allowed the president’s unqualified daughter (who lacks permanent security clearance) to brief a key ally on diplomatic decisions involving the risk of nuclear war. This snapshot belongs in an authoritarian banana republic. <a href="https://t.co/4MqT23aIfu">https://t.co/4MqT23aIfu</a></div>— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianklaas/status/967465479517495297?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>After testy call with Trump over border wall, Mexican president shelves plan to visit White House</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/after-testy-call-with-trump-over-border-wall-mexicos-president-shelves-plan-to-visit-white-house/2018/02/24/c7ffe9e8-199e-11e8-8b08-027a6ccb38eb_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>2 Weeks After Trump Blocked It, Democrats’ Rebuttal of G.O.P. Memo Is Released</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/24/us/politics/democratic-memo-released-fbi-surveillance-carter-page.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) 5 Takeaways From the Release of the Democratic Memo (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/24/us/politics/takeaways-democratic-memo.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) Democratic memo discredits Nunes, tantalizes on dossier corroboration (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/02/24/democratic-memo-discredits-nunes-tantalizes-with-redacted-intelligence/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>) Takeaways From the House Intelligence Democrats’ Memo (<a href="https://lawfareblog.com/takeaways-house-intelligence-democrats-memo" target="_blank">Lawfare blog</a>) The Democratic rebuttal to the Nunes memo tears it apart: Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff brought receipts. (<a href="https://www.vox.com/world/2018/2/24/17048936/democrat-rebuttal-nunes-schiff-memo" target="_blank">Vox</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Schiff memo: FISA warrant against Carter page received independent scrutiny and approval by four different federal judges: 2 appt'd by GWB, 1 by GHWB, one by Reagan.</div>— Tim Mak (@timkmak) <a href="https://twitter.com/timkmak/status/967510240030699520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="ro">FISA Judge 1: Republican <br />FISA Judge 2: Republican <br />FISA Judge 3: Republican <br />FISA Judge 4: Republican <br />Robert Mueller: Republican <br />Rod Rosenstein: Republican <br />Attorney General: Republican<br />FBI Director: Republican<br />House: Republican <br />Senate: Republican <br /><br />The Nunes Conspiracy🤭 <a href="https://t.co/f7YpVQgSeo">https://t.co/f7YpVQgSeo</a></div>— Joe Scarborough (@JoeNBC) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoeNBC/status/967549793122881536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">First pass thoughts on the Dem response memo: This is a pretty thorough demolition of Nunes’ insinuations of impropriety by FBI/DOJ, which were pretty weak as it stands.&nbsp; Also clarifies that Steele’s reporting re: Page was eventually corroborated. <a href="https://t.co/QlT4lnsUfN">https://t.co/QlT4lnsUfN</a></div>— Julian Sanchez (@normative) <a href="https://twitter.com/normative/status/967522959664533504?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The <a href="https://twitter.com/RepAdamSchiff?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepAdamSchiff</a> memo, just released with DOJ &amp; POTUS approval, shows that the surveillance of Carter Page was properly authorized LONG BEFORE the Steele dossier ever entered the picture. That blows the GOP case out of the water.<a href="https://t.co/NxZdu1qra8">https://t.co/NxZdu1qra8</a></div>— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) <a href="https://twitter.com/tribelaw/status/967516405330599937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Nobody releases good news late on a Saturday--no matter how POTUS and Rs are portraying it. This column raises troubling questions. Read it. <a href="https://t.co/0cMcMgPaiY">https://t.co/0cMcMgPaiY</a></div>— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) <a href="https://twitter.com/LarrySabato/status/967581797029728256?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 25, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>The Plot Against America:</u></b> Decades before he ran the Trump campaign, Paul Manafort’s pursuit of foreign cash and shady deals laid the groundwork for the corruption of Washington. (<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/03/paul-manafort-american-hustler/550925/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>What Rick Gates' Guilty Plea Means For Mueller’s Probe</u></b> (<a href="https://www.wired.com/story/what-rick-gates-guilty-plea-means-for-muellers-probe/" target="_blank">Wired</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Michael Wolff predicts Trump, Kushner [if the latter were indicted] would throw each other 'under the bus' in Mueller probe</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/media/375447-michael-wolff-predicts-trump-kushner-would-throw-each-other-under-the-bus-in" target="_blank">The Hill</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>White House Told Kushner’s Security Clearance Will Be Delayed</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/us/politics/trump-kushner-security-clearance.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">DOJ informed the White House this month that there were substantial issues related to Kushner that still needed to be investigated and would significantly delay his permanent security clearance, two people briefed on the matter tell NYT. <a href="https://t.co/zfGzCaBx7A">https://t.co/zfGzCaBx7A</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/967442776945233920?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">“The White House was not told what the issues were involving Mr. Kushner... But the notification led White House lawyers and aides to believe that they were more problematic than the complexity of his finances and his initial failure to disclose contacts with foreign leaders.” <a href="https://t.co/OfBvY757np">https://t.co/OfBvY757np</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/967444039640539136?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Key point is DOJ won’t tell the WH what the issues are. In a standard background check, they do. Jared’s issues are all about the Mueller probe, and it would be inappropriate for the WH to be briefed on those. <a href="https://t.co/XZcTA712HC">https://t.co/XZcTA712HC</a></div>— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) <a href="https://twitter.com/matthewamiller/status/967404562360528896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">John Kelly has told associates that he wouldn't mind if Jared Kushner and Ivanka "left their positions as full-time employees," according to WaPo. <a href="https://t.co/fC2siYTiOH">https://t.co/fC2siYTiOH</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/967500849319694336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Mona Charen Slams Sexist Hypocrisy and Racism at CPAC; Calls invitation of Le Pen a 'Disgrace'</u></b> (<a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/going-rogue-at-cpac-mona-charen-slams-sexist-hypocrisy-and-racism-at-cpac-calls-invitation-of-le-pen-a-disgrace/article/2011729" target="_blank">The Weekly Standard</a>) CPAC speaker calls conservatives “hypocrites” for ignoring Trump’s sexual harassment allegations: The crowd wasn’t happy, and security escorted her out for her protection when the panel ended. (<a href="https://www.vox.com/2018/2/24/17048660/cpac-mona-charen-video" target="_blank">Vox</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Charen is what happens when you have an actual conservative show up at CPAC. <a href="https://t.co/dpAkJT3wb7">https://t.co/dpAkJT3wb7</a></div>— Joe Carter (@joecarter) <a href="https://twitter.com/joecarter/status/967538102666452993?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>State Department report will trim language on women's rights, discrimination</u></b> (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/21/department-women-rights-abortion-420361" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Tillerson orders <a href="https://twitter.com/StateDept?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StateDept</a> to "trim" reports on human rights, by removing racial, ethnic &amp; sexual discrimination:<br />These reports are used in asylum hearings to show fear of persecution; If the info isn't in the reports, people will be sent to their deaths. <a href="https://t.co/7X3IoZ2vxU">https://t.co/7X3IoZ2vxU</a></div>— Rula Jebreal (@rulajebreal) <a href="https://twitter.com/rulajebreal/status/967318449880993792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Interior Secretary Zinke asked for confidential energy data. So two scientists left.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2018/02/21/two-scientists-have-left-the-interior-department-after-zinke-demanded-confidential-energy-data/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>NRA honors FCC chair with rifle for repealing 'net neutrality'</u></b> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-internet/nra-honors-fcc-chair-with-rifle-for-repealing-net-neutrality-idUSKCN1G800N" target="_blank">Reuters</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">As part of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NeverAgain?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NeverAgain</a>, institutional investors should be pressured to divest from gun makers—esp those that manufacture assault rifles.&nbsp; <a href="https://t.co/Go8MKAMQ97">https://t.co/Go8MKAMQ97</a></div>— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/967411250757070848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 24, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>NRA lashes out at boycott movement as United, Delta and other corporations cut ties</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/02/24/united-and-delta-cut-ties-to-nra-as-boycott-movement-spreads-to-global-corporations/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>[Former Secretary of State in George W. Bush Administration] Condoleezza Rice calls for 'conversation' on gun rights 'in the modern world'</u></b> (<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/375390-condoleezza-rice-calls-for-a-conversation-about-what-the-right" target="_blank">The Hill</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump’s proposal to arm teachers panned by experts as a ‘colossally stupid idea’</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-s-proposal-arm-teachers-panned-experts-colossally-stupid-idea-n850286" target="_blank">NBCNews</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Swiss rail cargo to cut over 750 jobs in the hunt for efficiency</u></b> (<a href="https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/declining-business_swiss-rail-cargo-to-cut-over-750-jobs-in-the-hunt-for-efficiency/43925002" target="_blank">SwissInfo</a>)<br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-41745655843237653012018-02-23T21:28:00.001-08:002018-02-23T21:28:34.666-08:00Friday roundup (02-23-18)<b><u>World economy WARNING: Biggest nations at RISK as rising interest rates to strangle budget:</u></b> THE world economy is at risk from a rising tide of government debt which is set to hit rich countries’ budgets, a shock report has warned. Bosses from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said the threat of rising interest rates will send public debt soaring. (<a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/923028/world-economic-news-finance-latest-government-debt-OECD-interest-rates" target="_blank">The Express</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>With rates low, Fed officials fret over next U.S. recession</u></b> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fed/with-rates-low-fed-officials-fret-over-next-us-recession-idUSKCN1G72PI" target="_blank">Reuters</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>The Danger of Deficits in Boom Times</u></b> (<a href="https://www.barrons.com/articles/the-danger-of-deficits-in-boom-times-1519440087" target="_blank">Barron's</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>POLL: Trump Approval Rating Higher Now Than Obama’s At Same Time In His Presidency</u></b> (<a href="http://dailycaller.com/2018/02/23/trump-obama-approval-rating/" target="_blank">The Daily Caller</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump's horrendous CPAC speech</u></b> (<a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trumps-horrendous-cpac-speech/article/2649875" target="_blank">The Washington Examiner</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Trump railed against “chain migration” at CPAC, but Melania Trump’s parents very likely are in the U.S. because of “chain migration.” <a href="https://t.co/gfPeGOgX8o">https://t.co/gfPeGOgX8o</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/967074147561082880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br />[Republican strategist:]<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">This speech at CPAC is demagogic, vapid, intellectually dishonest and just plain old fashioned idiotic.&nbsp; If someone delivered this speech from the end of a bar most people would think that person was an imbecile.</div>— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveSchmidtSES/status/967068638107852800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Speaker talking about the beauty of naturalization ceremonies draws loud, sustained booing at CPAC.</div>— Philip Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) <a href="https://twitter.com/PhilipWegmann/status/967139518909427712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>RNC started paying Trump campaign's rent at Trump Tower after it stopped covering Trump's legal bills for Russia probe</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/23/rnc-paid-trump-campaign-trump-tower-rent-after-paying-legal-bills.html" target="_blank">CNBC</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Meghan McCain believes Trump won't mock her father:</u></b> 'I don’t think at this point in his administration it would be beneficial to him in any way,' the Arizona senator’s daughter says. [Feb 7] (<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/07/meghan-mccain-women-rule-podcast-393632" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Meghan McCain told POLITICO she didn't believe <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> would go after her father again. At CPAC, Trump took a swipe at McCain for his vote on healthcare.&nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://t.co/ST13Lx693q">https://t.co/ST13Lx693q</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ls17dlWNoZ">pic.twitter.com/Ls17dlWNoZ</a></div>— POLITICO (@politico) <a href="https://twitter.com/politico/status/967183633269346304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Mueller and Trump: Born to wealth, raised to lead. Then, sharply different choices.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mueller-and-trump-born-to-wealth-raised-to-lead-then-sharply-different-choices/2018/02/22/ad50b7bc-0a99-11e8-8b0d-891602206fb7_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Rick Gates, Trump Campaign Aide, Pleads Guilty in Mueller Inquiry and Will Cooperate</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/us/politics/rick-gates-guilty-plea-mueller-investigation.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>) The one very big question about Rick Gates' plea deal (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/23/politics/rick-gates-mueller-analysis/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>) Rick Gates Has Agreed to Cooperate With Mueller’s Team. Here’s What He Might Know.: This is very bad news for Paul Manafort and Donald Trump. (<a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/02/rick-gates-pleads-guilty/" target="_blank">MotherJones</a>) Mueller Is Steadily Working His Way Up the Food Chain: After Rick Gates and Paul Manafort, the air up there gets pretty thin. (<a href="https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a18698221/rick-gates-robert-mueller/" target="_blank">Esquire</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Rick Gates is now the 5th person who has plead guilty in the Mueller probe:<br />• Gates<br />• Flynn <br />• Papadopoulos <br />• Pinedo <br />• Van Der Zwann<br /><br />Gates is the 3rd member of the Trump campaign who has plead guilty.</div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/967099370964385792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Rick Gates flips. That will practically force Manafort to flip too in order to save himself. And guess who they will drop the dime on? Hint: he watches a lot of Fox News.&nbsp; <a href="https://t.co/GwyEHnHaRs">https://t.co/GwyEHnHaRs</a></div>— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) <a href="https://twitter.com/MaxBoot/status/967054383501410304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">It bears noting that these alleged criminal actions by Manafort and Gates occurred while Manafort was on the campaign, while Gates was on the campaign, and while Gates was working on the transition.</div>— Bradley P. Moss (@BradMossEsq) <a href="https://twitter.com/BradMossEsq/status/966787987995492352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Inside the Manafort money machine:</u></b> A decade of influence-peddling, lavish spending and alleged fraud (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/inside-the-manafort-money-machine-a-decade-of-influence-peddling-lavish-spending-and-alleged-fraud/2018/02/23/08fb82fc-18b6-11e8-8b08-027a6ccb38eb_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Charges against Manafort:<br />• Conspiracy against the U.S.<br />• Conspiracy to launder money<br />• Unregistered foreign agent<br />• False and misleading FARA statements <br />• False statements <a href="https://t.co/tbS2kMDXU4">https://t.co/tbS2kMDXU4</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/967159669004427270?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Donald Trump’s campaign chairman is facing life in prison for crimes he allegedly commited, including some during his time on the campaign. This, alone, is a major, major political scandal. It was an open secret that Manafort was shady and corrupt; Trump hired him anyway. <a href="https://t.co/LkfKqdlodS">https://t.co/LkfKqdlodS</a></div>— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianklaas/status/966919496521756675?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Trump’s Pick to Lead Indian Health Service Withdraws Nomination</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/22/us/politics/indian-health-service-robert-weaver.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Parkland Survivor: 'I've Never Been So Unimpressed By A Person' After Trump Call:</u></b> The president reached out to Samantha Fuentes while she was in the hospital recovering from shooting wounds. (<a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/parkland-survivor-trump-unimpressed_us_5a8fc5f0e4b01e9e56ba318a" target="_blank">The Huffington Post</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="und"><a href="https://t.co/ot3A9jvEXP">https://t.co/ot3A9jvEXP</a> <a href="https://t.co/g6LIOtsAUn">pic.twitter.com/g6LIOtsAUn</a></div>— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) <a href="https://twitter.com/maggieNYT/status/966882816720908288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>BlackRock [= world's largest asset manager] puts gunmakers on notice after Florida school shooting</u></b> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-guns-blackrock/blackrock-puts-gunmakers-on-notice-after-florida-school-shooting-idUSKCN1G62PC" target="_blank">Reuters</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Companies cut ties with NRA amid backlash after Parkland shooting:</u></b> Large companies like Hertz are ending their relationships with the National Rifle Association, discontinuing special deals for the organization’s members, amid calls to boycott the NRA in the wake of the Parkland shooting. (<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/companies-cut-ties-with-nra-amid-backlash-after-parkland-shooting-1169108547978" target="_blank">NBCNews</a>) #BoycottNRA: Hertz and Avis are the latest companies to cut ties with gun lobby as movement gains steam (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/02/23/boycottnra-enterprise-omaha-bank-end-gun-lobby-deals-as-boycott-movement-gains-steam/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) NRA-affiliated businesses shed ties after Parkland, Florida school shooting (<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2018/02/23/nra-businesses-parkland-florida-school-shooting/366548002/" target="_blank">USAToday</a>) The NRA is being supported by these companies: Come for the discounts, stay for the opposition to common sense gun laws. (<a href="https://thinkprogress.org/corporations-nra-f0d8074f2ca7/" target="_blank">ThinkProgress</a>)<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.nbcnews.com/widget/video-embed/1169108547978" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The following companies have cut ties with the NRA over the last 24 hours. <br /><br />- Enterprise<br />- Wyndham<br />- Metlife<br />- Hertz<br />- Best Western<br />- First National Bank<br />- Alamo <br />- National <br />- Symantec<br />- Chubb<br />- SIRVA<br /><br /> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoycottNRA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BoycottNRA</a><br /><br />The list is growing!! RETWEET to show support!!</div>— Brian Krassenstein🐬 (@krassenstein) <a href="https://twitter.com/krassenstein/status/967174733971177473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The kids are moving the mountain ... <a href="https://t.co/hHnrtU4QUc">https://t.co/hHnrtU4QUc</a></div>— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lawrence/status/967078184922550273?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The kids are moving the mountain ... <a href="https://t.co/MaijLCj1Mw">https://t.co/MaijLCj1Mw</a></div>— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lawrence/status/967180307605553152?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Florida governor breaks with NRA, backs tighter gun restrictions</u></b> (<a href="http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-florida-shooting-governor-20180223-story.html" target="_blank">The Los Angeles Times</a>) Florida Gov. Rick Scott backs raising age for rifle purchases to 21 (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/florida-gov-rick-scott-backs-raising-age-for-gun-purchases-to-21/2018/02/23/4dc444f6-18a6-11e8-8b08-027a6ccb38eb_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) The N.R.A. Lobbyist Behind Florida’s Pro-Gun Policies: Marion Hammer’s unique influence over legislators has produced laws that dramatically alter long-held American norms. (<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/03/05/the-nra-lobbyist-behind-floridas-pro-gun-policies" target="_blank">The New Yorker</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Trump calls deputy who failed to stop Parkland school shooting a 'coward'</u></b> (<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/23/trump-calls-parkland-deputy-who-failed-stop-school-shooting-coward/366520002/" target="_blank">USAToday</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">So let me get this straight ... an armed school resource officer was too afraid, presumably, to enter the school and respond to a spree killer with an AR-15, but the <a href="https://twitter.com/NRA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NRA</a> thinks the lunch lady, the janitor or the math teacher should stand in the line of fire and shoot it out? <a href="https://t.co/WHEms2Uha5">https://t.co/WHEms2Uha5</a></div>— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) <a href="https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/966844259059097600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">The president who did NOT run toward the sound of the guns in Vietnam 50 years ago, now labels an officer with a handgun a "coward" for not running toward the sound of an AR15. <br /><br />Trump is by far the most cowardly president in history.</div>— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lawrence/status/967069184122384390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>I’m Republican [= United States Representative for Florida’s 18th congressional district]. I Appreciate Assault Weapons. And I Support a Ban.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/23/opinion/brian-mast-assault-weapons-ban.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br />[FDIC chair during George W. Bush administration and a life-long Republican:]<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">I was an NRA member as a kid. Hunted quail with my dad. Proud of my NRA marksmanship medals. Back then, the NRA stood for gun safety and sportsmanship. Not anymore. Their true constituency: those who profit from selling guns.</div>— Sheila Bair (@SheilaBair2013) <a href="https://twitter.com/SheilaBair2013/status/967027450202017792?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Four times in the past decade, a federal appeals court has ruled that a ban on assault weapons was permissible under the Second Amendment. In fact, no federal appeals court has ever held that assault weapons are protected. <a href="https://t.co/DGfwPijV6t">https://t.co/DGfwPijV6t</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/966728056932065280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">If a gunman can walk into a military base like Fort Hood with 100% of the populace 'highly trained" in firearms use, and still murder 13 people with a pistol, do you honestly think that 20% of teachers having a gun is going to stop the next killer who may have an AR-15?</div>— Brian Krassenstein🐬 (@krassenstein) <a href="https://twitter.com/krassenstein/status/966668902318063618?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>[Republican] Gov. Rick Snyder: 'I don't think having more guns is a good thing'</u></b>&nbsp;(<a href="https://www.politico.com/story/2018/02/23/rick-snyder-guns-422743" target="_blank">Politico</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Oregon lawmakers pass gun-control bill; governor to sign it</u></b> (<a href="http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2018/02/22/oregon-lawmakers-pass-gun-control-bill-governor-sign/364696002/" target="_blank">The Statesman Journal of Salem, Oregon</a>)<br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-36142673567099482232018-02-22T21:36:00.003-08:002018-02-22T21:36:48.302-08:00Thursday roundup (02-22-18)<b><u>Government debt levels to hit new global high this year - S&amp;P</u></b> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/governments-debt-sp/government-debt-levels-to-hit-new-global-high-this-year-sp-idUSL8N1QC70R" target="_blank">Reuters</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Rising tide of debt to hit rich countries’ budgets, warns OECD <a href="https://t.co/4pQlGU37d6">https://t.co/4pQlGU37d6</a></div>— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) <a href="https://twitter.com/FinancialTimes/status/966625202745507846?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">A world of debt mortgages our economic future <a href="https://t.co/ggPrTELq3Q">https://t.co/ggPrTELq3Q</a></div>— FT China (@ftchina) <a href="https://twitter.com/ftchina/status/966811854407421953?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>What You Need to Know About Italy’s March 4 Election</u></b> (<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-02-22/why-italy-s-march-4-election-is-one-worth-watching-quicktake" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Sen. Whitehouse [(D) of Rhode Island]: [United States President Donald] Trump is in the back pocket of billionaires</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/21/opinions/trump-billionaire-influence-opinion-whitehouse/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)&nbsp;Hidden Brain: The Rich Are Different . . . [National Public Radio podcast via] (<a href="http://ritholtz.com/2018/02/the-rich-are-different/" target="_blank">The Big Picture blog</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Two top White House advisers [National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and Chief of Staff John Kelly] may leave over tensions with Trump: sources</u></b> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-mcmaster-kelly/two-top-white-house-advisers-may-leave-over-tensions-with-trump-sources-idUSKCN1G7001" target="_blank">Reuters</a>) McMaster could leave WH after months of tension with Trump (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/22/politics/hr-mcmaster-future-trump-white-house/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Special counsel Mueller files new charges against Manafort, Gates</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/special-counsel-mueller-files-new-charges-in-manafort-gates-case/2018/02/22/7db99c9c-1716-11e8-8b08-027a6ccb38eb_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) Mueller more than doubles criminal charges against Manafort and Gates (<a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-indictment-manafort-gates-20180222-story.html" target="_blank">The Los Angeles Times</a>) Mueller asking if Manafort promised banker White House job in return for loans (<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/mueller-asking-if-manafort-promised-banker-white-house-job-return-n849916" target="_blank">NBCNews</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">There are two investigations, being conducted jointly:<br />1. Mueller: into whether Manafort got loans as part of quid pro quo deal to give head of bank a job in Trump admin<br />2. Manhattan U.S. atty's office: into possible money laundering involving those loans <a href="https://t.co/K6VBY2NBEQ">https://t.co/K6VBY2NBEQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/PvZRFKQd1v">pic.twitter.com/PvZRFKQd1v</a></div>— erica orden (@eorden) <a href="https://twitter.com/eorden/status/966680648462274560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Mueller Is Ending the Era of Impunity for Washington's Foreign Lobbyists:</u></b> If the goal is to find proof of election meddling, why are all the indictments about failing to register as an agent? (<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-02-21/mueller-s-crackdown-has-been-on-lobbyists-not-russia" target="_blank">Bloomberg</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Sources: Mueller probe stymies Kushner security clearance</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/22/politics/jared-kushner-security-clearance-delay-mueller-investigation/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>U.S. official focused on election security being replaced</u></b> (<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyber-election-masterson-exclusiv/exclusive-u-s-official-focused-on-election-security-being-shoved-aside-idUSKCN1G62NI" target="_blank">Reuters</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">SCOOP: Speaker Ryan and the Trump White House are getting rid of the current chairman of the Election Assistance Commission, a Boehner-picked official who has spent the past year helping states bulletproof election systems from Russian hackers. <a href="https://t.co/H6YtUSUMxQ">https://t.co/H6YtUSUMxQ</a></div>— Dustin Volz (@dnvolz) <a href="https://twitter.com/dnvolz/status/966762297787125760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services drops ‘nation of immigrants’ from mission statement</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/u-s-citizenship-immigration-services-drops-nation-immigrants-mission-statement-n850501" target="_blank">NBCNews</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>The FCC’s vote repealing its net neutrality rules is finally official. Here’s what happens now.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/02/22/the-fccs-net-neutrality-rules-will-die-on-april-23-heres-what-happens-now/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) Democratic state attorneys general sue to preserve net neutrality rules (<a href="http://thehill.com/policy/technology/375166-democratic-state-attorneys-general-sue-to-preserve-net-neutrality-rules" target="_blank">The Hill</a>) Why states might win the net neutrality war against the FCC: FCC might have doomed its preemption case by renouncing authority over broadband. (<a href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2018/02/why-ajit-pai-might-fail-in-quest-to-block-state-net-neutrality-laws/" target="_blank">ArsTechnica</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>What I Saw Treating the Victims From Parkland Should Change the Debate on Guns:</u></b> They weren’t the first victims of a mass shooting the Florida radiologist had seen—but their wounds were radically different. (<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2018/02/what-i-saw-treating-the-victims-from-parkland-should-change-the-debate-on-guns/553937/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Florida shooter was “a good guy with a gun” as defined by the <a href="https://twitter.com/NRA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NRA</a>: legally purchased semiautomatic rifle, didn’t have a criminal background, not adjudicated mentally ill. <br /><br />Wayne LaPierre opposes every law, every policy that would have kept the Florida teen from having guns.</div>— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) <a href="https://twitter.com/shannonrwatts/status/966741625111117825?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">We talk a lot about who the NRA funds but not enough about who funds the NRA. They are a lobbying group for gun manufacturers and therefore push for positions that lead to more guns being bought in this country.</div>— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) <a href="https://twitter.com/danpfeiffer/status/966517144132337664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">A message about the inspiring students in Florida and across our nation: <a href="https://t.co/XCkSoIGBaZ">pic.twitter.com/XCkSoIGBaZ</a></div>— Bill McRaven (@billmcraven) <a href="https://twitter.com/billmcraven/status/966495949634842624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>Arming Teachers Is A Stupid Idea by Jenn Budd [former Federal Agent]</u></b> (<a href="https://crooksandliars.com/2018/02/why-arming-teachers-stupid-idea" target="_blank">Crooks and Liars blog</a>) Why Arming Teachers Is A Fantasy War Game (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC1VAPJ5cgE" target="_blank">MSNBC</a>)<br /><br /><iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aC1VAPJ5cgE?rel=0" width="400"></iframe><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">You are really nailed it tonight, Lawrence!&nbsp; I’m a combat veteran with a bronze star, cool under fire, grew up with guns, etc. I spent nearly thirty years in the college classroom.I am NOT qualified to intervene in a dicey school situation for the very reasons you are enumerating</div>— Roy Darby (@Beardragon1) <a href="https://twitter.com/Beardragon1/status/966516885918535680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">WaPo estimates that it could cost as much as $1,000,000,000 to arm and train 20% of America’s teachers. <a href="https://t.co/UDLWbZtOHb">https://t.co/UDLWbZtOHb</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/966662608945217538?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-conversation="none" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">NO NO NO!! You have truly lost your effing mind.&nbsp; I am a teacher and there's no way in hell I would ever, EVER own or carry a gun, let alone shoot it. You are nuts! <a href="https://twitter.com/Lawrence?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Lawrence</a> stated in detail last night why this is a horrific idea. Learn the facts! Do you have an ounce of sense?</div>— Kim Welch (@kjw9126) <a href="https://twitter.com/kjw9126/status/966689773246021632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br />[THREAD:]<br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Let me tell you guys about my personal experience shooting accurately and shooting accurately under stress and how it relates to this "let's arm teachers" debate.</div>— Jay Kirell (@JasonKirell) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonKirell/status/966505189552336896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>The NRA’s Plan to “Harden” Schools is Terrifying:</u></b> Key recommendations include getting rid of trees, as well as windows. (<a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/02/the-nras-plan-to-harden-schools-is-terrifying/" target="_blank">MotherJones</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>NRA chief accuses Democrats of pushing 'socialist' agenda in wake of Florida shooting</u></b> (<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/02/22/politics/wayne-lapierre-cpac-speech-nra/index.html" target="_blank">CNN</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">This is how Wayne LaPierre describes Democrats just before Pence speaks at CPAC: "A party that is now infested with saboteurs who don't believe in capitalism, don't believe in the Constitution, don't believe in our freedom, and don't believe in America as we know it." (via CBS) <a href="https://t.co/LDduPqOlVB">pic.twitter.com/LDduPqOlVB</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/966696657667715074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 22, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Watching LaPierre at CPAC today was disturbing and frightening. It reminded me of the quote often misattributed to Sinclair Lewis, “When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross”.&nbsp; There was an illiberal wind blowing today. It was ominous</div>— Steve Schmidt (@SteveSchmidtSES) <a href="https://twitter.com/SteveSchmidtSES/status/966858889366003713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 23, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><b><u>NAB set to axe first 1000 jobs [of up to 6000] under cost-cutting plan</u></b> (<a href="http://www.smh.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/nab-set-to-axe-first-1000-jobs-under-cost-cutting-plan-20180218-p4z0sh.html" target="_blank">The Sydney Morning Herald</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>British Gas-owner Centrica is cutting 4,000 jobs after profits collapsed 17% in a dreadful year</u></b> (<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/centrica-2017-results-british-gas-owners-profit-falls-17-4000-job-cuts-planned-2018-2" target="_blank">The Business Insider</a>)<br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-88204282815476720102018-02-22T21:27:00.005-08:002018-02-22T21:27:34.766-08:00Initial jobless claims (Weekly report, 02-23-18)The purpose of this weekly post is to watch how initial jobless claims in the United States are trending (up or down) and to keep track of whether the numbers are holding below 500,000, which would indicate at least the appearance of a fairly healthy economic situation.<br /><br />According to the report released today:<br /><br />"Initial U.S. jobless claims fell by 7,000 to 222,000 in the seven days ended Feb. 17, marking the second lowest level since the end of the 2007-2009 recession." (<a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-jobless-claims-drop-7000-to-222000-and-fall-back-to-45-year-low-2018-02-22" target="_blank">Marketwatch</a>)<br /><br /><a href="http://economicsignsofthetimes.blogspot.com/2018/02/initial-jobless-claims-weekly-report-02_15.html" target="_blank">SEE LAST WEEK'S POST HERE.</a><br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1160066417127290588.post-31488859207260105532018-02-21T21:40:00.002-08:002018-02-21T21:40:20.364-08:00Wednesday roundup (02-21-18)<b><u>Italian election: Italy faces debt crisis WHOEVER wins vote - analyst [for La Repubblica] shows soaring levels:</u></b> ALL of Italy’s political parties are set to send national debt soaring by more than 130 percent of GDP despite promises to cut it down, according to analysis ahead of the election. (<a href="https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/921904/italy-election-2018-debt-crisis-analysis-Antonella-Guerrero-a-Repubblica" target="_blank">The Express</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>[In the United States,] ACLU Finds Courts Nationwide Ordering Consumers to Be Arrested and Jailed at the Bidding of Private Debt Collection Companies</u></b> [-- "This practice violates the many state and federal laws as well as international human rights standards that prohibit the jailing of debtors."] (<a href="https://www.aclu.org/news/aclu-finds-courts-nationwide-ordering-consumers-be-arrested-and-jailed-bidding-private-debt" target="_blank">American Civil Liberties Union</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Jared Kushner encapsulates what’s wrong with the Trump administration</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/02/21/jared-kushner-encapsulates-whats-wrong-with-the-trump-administration/" target="_blank">The Washington Post blogs</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Melania Trump’s parents are legal permanent residents, raising questions about whether they relied on ‘chain migration’</u></b> (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/melania-trumps-parents-are-legal-permanent-residents-raising-questions-about-whether-they-relied-on-chain-migration/2018/02/21/3b573df8-1687-11e8-8b08-027a6ccb38eb_story.html" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>) The huge questions about Melania Trump’s immigration history nobody will answer (<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/02/21/the-huge-questions-about-melania-trumps-immigration-history-nobody-will-answer/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Making America Toxic Again:</u></b> Scott Pruitt’s job is to protect the environment. Unfortunately, God has other plans for him. (<a href="https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2018/02/scott-pruitt-profile-epa-trump/" target="_blank">MotherJones</a>)<br /><br /><b><u>Florida Students Began With Optimism. Then They Spoke to Lawmakers.</u></b> (<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/us/tallahassee-parkland-students.html" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>)<br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Marjory Stoneman Douglas student Alfonso Calderon: "Trust me. I understand. I was in a closet, locked for 4 hours with people who I would consider almost family, crying and weeping on me, begging for their lives. I understand what it is like to text my parents goodbye." (via CBS) <a href="https://t.co/APlHok201e">pic.twitter.com/APlHok201e</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/966393397887078401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><div dir="ltr" lang="en">Delaney Tarr, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School student: "We've had enough of thoughts and prayers... so this is to every lawmaker out there... we are coming after every single one of you and demanding that you take action, demanding that you make a change." (via ABC) <a href="https://t.co/5CLQTyJPDu">pic.twitter.com/5CLQTyJPDu</a></div>— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) <a href="https://twitter.com/kylegriffin1/status/966378523802861570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 21, 2018</a></blockquote><br /><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script><br /><br /><i>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The aim of this blog is to show (mostly from reports in mainstream respected news sources) that there is reason to believe that both the United States and the global economies remain fragile in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008 and that a number of threats exist today that could, if they worsened, bring about economic depression -- not just a minor depression, but a depression worse than the Great Depression. Key threats include excessive risk-taking by financial firms, unchecked by effective regulation; the continued existence of "too big to fail" institutions; and most especially, the amassing of levels of public and private debt which could become unsustainable.</i>Romemanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04471946464223965607noreply@blogger.com0